Many years were lost in the editorial sector of the Republic of Moldova owing to the authorities’ opposition, the director of the publishing house “Cartier” Gheorghe Erizanu says in an article for IPN. The editor noted that the VAT on books was annulled in 1998, but this thing was obtained with difficulty. Also, the state started to support editorial projects only in 2012, but also as a result of the insistence of people from this field.
According to Gheorghe Erizanu, at first, when Moldova only obtained independence, there was openness towards the markets of Romania and Russia, and the editors of the Republic of Moldova worked for a part of the Russian market, while another part for the market of Romania. Some of these worked on both of the markets. Today, we have no editor, with small exceptions, who would work for the Russian market. Most of the editors oriented to the Romanian market or remained in the Republic of Moldova.
The Union of Editors of the Republic of Moldova in 1998 managed with difficulty to obtain the removal of the VAT on books. “But do you realize how many years we lost? In 2012 a project to support the national book was implemented. This means that about 300 copies of editors’ printed copies are sold to libraries for 60-40% of the selling price. This is how the book stock of libraries at reasonable prices grows. But this has been done for three years. We lost another 22 years. A bill to this effect has been promoted since 1998, but met with opposition,” stated the editor. Gheorghe Erizanu considers that things in the field of regulation and legislation in Moldova must be brought to an end.
According to him, in the people’s priorities the book is on the periphery because a system of values - a meritocratic system in the field of books, of knowledge and education – wasn’t created. In the education system, it is a period when reading is left out. At the Faculty of Journalism, for example, there is no model of literature. “If we look at the press, we practically do not have book chronicles. Several literary magazines try to exist on subsidies, but for the book to become a cult, it must be promoted in the daily and generalist press,” believes the director of the publishing house “Cartier”. However, he has never been a supporter of the theory that they read not much in Moldova. They read not more or less than in other countries. The writers should visit lyceums or kindergartens, where to discuss their books, he stated.
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the declaration of Moldova’s Independence, IPN News Agency decided to depict the portrait of the current Republic of Moldova. For the purpose, it provoked a number of people, including state officials, politicians, businessmen, civil rights activists and persons without posts and titles, but who have what to say. The generic picture is entitled “Thoughts about and for Moldova”. The materials started to be published on July 18.
