OSCE representative observes media developments in Moldova

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Miklos Haraszti told a news conference on November 25 that he noticed developments and more pluralism in the mass media in Moldova after the change of the government, Info-Prim Neo reports. “I saw more pluralism after September. The problems discussed at present concern pluralism, not the lack of pluralism. We speak about the guarantees of pluralism, not about establishment of pluralism,” the official said at the end of a working visit to Moldova. While in Chisinau, Haraszti had met with a number of officials, including Moldova's Acting President and Head of Parliament Mihai Ghimpu, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Popov, representatives of the Broadcasting Coordination Council and the member of the Communist Opposition Mark Tkachuk. He said that after the change of power, the broadcasting sector found itself in a new situation. He referred especially to the Supervisory Board of Teleradio-Moldova, which cannot come together. “The government coalition changed the legislation on the election of the members of the Council so that they could be elected by a simple majority. This can be accepted on one condition: the appointment of members should not be monopolized by one political force,” he added. Miklos Haraszti went on to add that the representatives of the Communists Party he had spoken to admitted there were indeed several channels close to the party. “I heard complaints from the coalition about the objectivity of certain channels, but I also heard complains from the Communists Party. The latter recognized there were channels close to them and recognized that the situation in the past had been unhealthy”, the official said. Miklos Haraszti suggested the Broadcasting Code should be modified provided that all the interested parties are involved, including international experts. “The communist opposition states the current legislation received approval from the international community, still there are certain problems that remain unsolved”, he said, mentioning the need for legal instruments that would allow the Broadcasting Council to impose tougher sanctions and ensure more transparency in the identity of founders of media institutions.