CoE monitoring should be regarded as a help not as a penalty – Rene van der Linden

The procedure of monitoring a state by the Council of Europe (CoE) is an important instrument in the light of according assistance. Monitoring process must not be seen as a penalty but as a help, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Rene van der Linden declared, referring to the fact that CoE will continue monitoring Moldova. At the press conference which took place on Thursday in the evening, July 27, the quoted source declared that during the last year, Moldova registered certain progresses, but legislative debates and approving laws is not sufficient because their implementation is more important. He mentioned about the necessity of avoiding in the implementation process, possible incidents, which have an extremely negative impact over the image of the country. Regarding the perspectives of European Integration, van der Linden ascertained that a certain political will in this respect exists, but the process will be of long standing. Referring to the situation of the Media in the Republic of Moldova, van der Linden pleaded in favor of many independent sources of information, stressing upon the necessity of local public broadcasters. Aked to comment upon the provisions of the draft Audiovisual Code, approved by the Parliament in second reading on Thursday, according to which the local public broadcasters will become bureaus of “TeleRadio-Moldova” Company, Rene van der Linden said that he will thoroughly study this issue, which for sure will be included in the monitoring report of the Council of Europe. Rene van der Linde is paying an official visit to the Republic of Moldova during July 26-28. He met with the leadership of the country, leaders of the parliamentary factions, and representatives of the religious organizations and delivered a speech to the Moldovan MPs.