Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin pleads for canceling articles from the legislation providing fining journalists for slander. The suggestion was launched at a meeting with media managers on Tuesday, as the presidential advisors also attended it, Info-Prim quotes a communique from the Presidency. Now, defending the honor, dignity and professional reputation is regulated by article 16 of the Civil Code which allows the plaintiff to ask for material damages from the accused. The threshold of damages to be paid is not restricted. The same article establishes certain criteria in this respect. In fact the amount is left at the discretion of courts, as it is often computed subjectively, reads the release. “Thus, the media are permanently menaced to be ordered to pay considerable damages, in case they air unchecked or slanderous information. In our conditions, this represents a restriction of the freedom of speech,” the President said. Vladimir Voronin has announced his availability to sign a presidential initiative in this respect to be submitted to the Parliament. He says it is enough to cancel only point 8 of article 16 concerning the material sanctioning for moral prejudices. At the same time, the whole article will go on working in the respect of recognizing the information as untruthful, of causing moral damages and of allowing to ask for denial, apologies etc. “That is, if you lie, you should apologize openly and in public. While society will understand what is truthful information and what is not,” the President stated. He has pointed out that any mutual criticism between the rulers and the opposition, no matter how harsh, is an element of the democratic game rules. “It is bad if the rulers cover the mouths of opposition journalists. But, also, it is not good if the opposition media try to exert pressure on journalists, who sincerely chose to stick to the power,” the President is quoted by his press unit as having said. At the meeting they decided to set up a new professional organization of journalists, to institute the Journalist Day, as some suggested to adopt a joint statement of all media representatives on Moldova's European integration. Another communique issued by the Presidency on Tuesday announces President Vladimir Voronin appointed as presidential advisor for humanitarian programs Ilie Telescu, the former president of Teleradio-Moldova.