Interim mayor of the capital affirms that he respected and respects the right of the press to information

The interim mayor of the capital, Vasile Ursu, affirmed in a statement that „he respected and respects the press right, including its access to information”, but in the same context he has the right to require „respect of society’s rights on behalf of the press to a correct and objective information of it.” Dafter he was blamed by many mass media organisations of Chisinau that Ursu opposes to free access of the press to mayoralty’s meetings and that the local public administration „gets far from the norms of transparency and opening”, the interim mayor noted in his message at the operative meeting of the mayoralty of 6 March regarding the TV station Pro-TV Chisinau. According to Ursu, „PRO-TV Chisinau reporters, even present at the meetings of the mayoralty, admit, denaturising of the facts and situations, leading to non-objective information of the population over institution’s activity they represent and to damaging of its image.” The interim mayor noted that „this practice goes on – a non-honourable fact for a TV station as Pro-TV”. He also noted that his message and objections „shall be interpreted as an appeal to fairness on behalf of mass media and not as depriving of its access to information.” In the same time, Ursu is sure that „access to information aims to exclude inexact ties and mistakes in discussing problems and not their acceptance” and the recent statement of organisations has a general character. The Independent Journalism Centre, Committee for Press Freedom, the Association of Independent Press, Centre Acces-Info, Association of Electronic Press and Union of Journalists of Moldova appreciated, after the operative meeting of mayoralty of 6 March, the statements of Ursu regarding the non-access of media to mayoralty’s meeting and information “as disturbing. The undersigned made this appreciations after interim mayor Vasile Ursu reacted very tough to critic materials regarding the activity of the public administration of the capital. “we remind that the access to official information is a right of every person and we regret the fact that the mayoralty of Chisinau gets away from the norms of transparency and opening, adopts an ignoring attitude of the principles of democratic society, against the recommendations of the Council of Europe, constitutional norms and provisions of Law on access to information”, according to statement of mass media organisations of Chisinau. Vasile Ursu a said at the operative meeting of the mayoralty that he would not allow the access to meetings of the reporters who „backbite” local public administration, without mentioning someone. Addressing to all reporters present in the room, Ursu noted, “mass media is allowed here, and not to take one word” and does not accept “such press that instigates the spirits”. At the meeting of 13 March, the interim mayor did not refer to press, and at its end he announced that mayors of the suburbs, district heads, heads of municipal sub-divisions remain in the room for another meeting.