The free press developed explosively in 2008 despite endless fights with the state. Info-Prim Neo interview with Valeriu Saharneanu, president of the Journalists’ Union of Moldova

[ - The way the Moldovan authorities understand their duty to ensure freedom of press does not dissuade the European institutions and NGOs in the filed from condemning the lack of progresses in this area. What must happen for Moldova to stop being criticized for its deficiencies concerning the freedom of press?] - It is evident for us, the Moldovan citizens, and for the European institutions that the present governing political class is not able to discover the meaning of the free press in a democratic society, as free press means development. By criticizing the government’s flaws, the free media helps this government fulfill its duties to the country in an honest and responsible manner. The free press filters the trash of incompetence, of corruption, of betrayal of the national interests and of bad faith. Only a corrupt, incompetent, antinational, and antidemocratic government doesn’t want a free and courageous press that would help it govern well in the best interests of the public. It is a test where the government tested positive, meaning it is hopelessly sick of all the vices and there is only one cure for it: definitive departure from the Moldovan political arena together with the poverty of the tormenting transition they generate. The next government must be formed by political forces that will commit themselves to promoting a free press and to fortifying it through special legal, institutional and economic measures. [ -In 2008, no journalist died on the job in Moldova. Can this fact be called a good result?] - Thank God things haven’t gone that bad. It is certainly an achievement of our society. But there have been cases where journalists got beaten by the police, the institution that is actually obliged to defend and to ensure the security of those who are doing their job and not only. In 2008 our society saw the most horrible case of intimidation of the free press. I mean the attack unleashed from the parliament’s rostrum by Christian Democrats against Pro TV Chisinau. MP Secareanu demanded that the Security and Information Service (SIS), the General Prosecutor’s Office and other law enforcement bodies verify this station in order to find out who its founders are and who controls the editorial policy of this channel, which allegedly “endangers the security of the state”, a very serious charge. The Journalists’ Union has taken stance on this case, which has a journalist as a deputy is involved. Journalists are prevented by the state authorities from doing their job freely, from having access to information of public interest, they are attacked when they try to film or take photos of high-ranking statesmen. The journalists are underpaid because the advertising sector has been monopolized by those who are serving the government. The economic environment is politically corrupt and does not run by the rules of a free market, which would feed the free press among others. This way the free media and journalists are tortured by having their resources for living reduced. Many of our colleagues chose to go abroad to be able to maintain their families. [ - The opinion polls show people place much trust in media. How do you explain this?] - This confidence is due to the courage and self-sacrifice of the free media and journalists who, in spite of all hardships, are persistent in their endeavor to inform correctly, fully and responsibly the audience which reads, listens and watches. This is the source of the optimism that not everything is lost in Moldova and that, when the right choice is made, things could take a better and sounder course. [ - How do you think the year 2008 was in what concerns developments in the media, compared with the previous years?] - It was a year in which the free press actively resisted the pressures from the authorities. The Journalists’ Union staged numerous demonstrations, including outdoor public debates to protest the political control placed by the Communist government on the public institution Teleradio-Moldova and the ban on televised debates which would give equal access to all the political parties and the entire civil society. For one year, almost every Sunday, these demonstrations were attended by over 500 representatives and leaders of parties, opinion leaders, journalists, citizens from villages and towns, intellectuals and peasants, who had the chance to speak freely. This was not out of any danger, because the Information and Security Service and the General Prosecutor’s Office got involved by initiating investigations and penal proceedings against the participants who spoke at the microphone in the National Opera Square. The authority’s attitude toward us, the journalists, shows its clear involution. Even the diplomatic missions, which took stance at least twice in 2008, could not stop this decline. The free press, as it is: small, poor and harmed in the endless fights with the state, has impressively and explosively developed. This press is a healthy bud heralding the emergence of an authentic democracy and we want to believe that it will come for Moldova in 2009. May God help us and Happy New Year, dear journalists!