Right to know must become desire to know, debates

Moldovans have the right to know. They can fully enjoy it years after they first requested it. Now the people, each of them, must have the desire to know more. The opinion was shared by participants in the debates “The right to know –the right to live home like in Europe”, organized on Monday, September 24, by the Center for promoting freedom of expression and access to information “Acces-Info”, Info-Prim Neo reports. Valeriu Prohnitchi, executive director of the Analytic Center “Expert-Grup”, appreciated that the situation in this field had improved since 13 years ago. The right to know is one of the rights that citizens must always demand. Historian Mihai Tasca thinks that the Law regarding access to information must be amended to reduce the 30 days deadline, which he deems too long for obtaining information from authorities. Stela Mocanu, executive director of the e-Government Center, thinks that e-Government offers new possibilities and that information can indeed be obtained sooner than in 30 days. “We are a country that must integrate through technologies. The Government must honor its commitments and the people’s expectations, who want an immediate answer, without having to wait”, she said. Aneta Gonta, representative of the Electronic Press Association APEL, said that the Moldovans had the right to know. “Now, we must want to know and understand what we demand. We have this opportunity. For 13 years, APEL has been promoting the idea to want to know”, said Aneta Gonta. Dean of the Faculty of Journalism and Communication Sciences of the State University of Moldova Georgeta Stepanov says that the right to information means a great responsibility. “The journalist must weigh the information to see if it is of public interest or of momentary interest. He must think about the effects of the writing in press”, said Georgeta Stepanov. Mayor of Bahrinesti commune in Floresti district Feodosia Bunescu implemented several projects regarding the information of people. They have Wi-Fi Interned access, a guide of the active citizen and a monthly bulletin in which the mayor reports about her recent activity. “For me, ensuring access to information means communication with the public and for an elected official it means all. Half of our households are connected to the Internet”, communicated Feodosia Bunescu. The public debates are part of the Right to Know Days, which take place between September 24 and 30, organized with the support of German Foundation Hanns Seidel as part of the project “European integration as a national idea with the potential to strengthen Moldovan society”.