Experts in the field assert that financing of Moldovan media institutions from external sources is made in a legal and transparent way. At the same time, they do not exclude the possibility that, following the instructions given by President Vladimir Voronin to the Information and Security Service (SIS), media institutions could be persecuted by state bodies. Commenting on Voronin’s statements that SIS must deal with illicit political and media financing, including from external sources, Corina Cepoi, acting director of the Independent Journalism Centre, told Info-Prim Neo that the existing financing of mass-media are public and transparent, hoping that things will not go as bad as to see abuses happen. At the same time, Petru Macovei, director of the Independent Press Association, believes that if the presidential instructions are fulfilled, it will most likely allow room for abuses in the filed. According to Macovei, the statements were made so as to fan the flames of the hysterical belief that Moldova is exposed to an external threat, which in fact doesn’t exist. “Those instructions targeted only one so-called external menace, and that is Romania”, said Macovei. He added that the Moldovan media does get some financing from the neighbour country, but the government of other states also provide financing through all of sorts of programmes. This is done in a transparent manner, so there’s no reason for suspicion, Macovei remarked. Given that the Government can’t afford to support the Moldovan media, such hysterical approaches towards this sort of financing are out of place, API director concluded. Speaking at the extended meeting of the SIS Board on January 31, Vladimir Voronin stated that the SIS has the task to combat illegal political and media financing, including from abroad. The Opposition parties play an important role in a democratic society, as long as their activity is not directed against the state, said Voronin, underlining the importance of stepping up the Service’s activities in an effort to anticipate the attempts to undermine the constitutional regime and statehood of Moldova.