Media NGOs in Moldova alarmed at situation of “Antena C” and “Euro TV Chisinau” stations

The media nongovernmental organisations that monitor the way in which the municipal radio station and TV channel are reorganised express concern about the lack of progress in resuming the broadcasting of “Antena C” radio station, as well as about certain reported cases of censorship at “Euro TV Chisinau”. A statement cited by Info-Prim Neo says that the delay in resuming the activity of the municipal radio station and the possible censoring of “Euro TV” programmes reported by journalists from this station could be directed against the freedom of expression, pluralism and media pluralism. As the signers say, “Antena C” has not been broadcasting for over three weeks, while the persons and bodies in charge seem to amplify the uncertainty and lack of transparency in this process, instead of taking actions to remove the causes that put the station off the air. After the specialists at “Radiocomunicatii” SE invoked technical problems initially, at present there are set forth reasons that are not of technical nature, but of legal one, as the enterprise delays the signing of the contract for providing radio broadcasting services for 2007. All these actions seem to be directed at further keeping the Antena C radio station in silence, media organisations state. They are worried about the situation at “Euro TV”, where, according to a certain statement signed by the journalists from this institution, the interim manager gave indications to ban a series of personalities from appearing on the channel. “These restrictions give serious cause for concern and could be qualified as censorship and deprivation of the right to fair, objective and equidistant information. According to international standards and recommendations of the Council of Europe related to the public broadcaster, the content of the audiovisual programmes must not be subjected to any censorship whatsoever”, the statement says. Under these conditions, media organisations assert that the disruption of Antena C’s signal and censorship at Euro TV Chisinau contravene the European and international standards that guarantee the freedom of press and right to free expression. The statement is signed by the Association of Electronic Media APEL, Independent Press Association, Independent Journalism Centre, Committee for Freedom of the Press, Journalists’ Union in Moldova, Centre of Journalism Investigation, Access-Info Centre, Monitor Media Association, and Association of Economic Journalists.