Vladimir Voronin is 'not familiar' with international organizations' reports on press freedom in Moldova

The former president of Moldova Vladimir Voronin told a news conference on September 15 that he does not know about the reports on the poor situation of the press in Moldova compiled by international organizations, Info-Prim Neo reports. Valeriu Saharneanu, the president of the Journalists Union of Moldova (UJM), asked Vladimir Voronin to say why Moldova became a country with a not free press during his presidency, according to international organizations' reports. “I do not know about the international organizations' analysis that you mentioned, but I remember how many journalists I saw when I became president in 2001 and I see how many are today. Isn't this a proof that the media organizations in Moldova have developed?” Voronin asked. Vladimir Voronin said that while he held office “no journalist and no media outlet was harmed”. The president of the UJM insisted yet that the head of state should remember the closure of the TV channel “Stil TV” and the radio station “Vocea Basarabiei”, which were later reopened, and the legal action taken against the newspapers “Timpul” and “Jurnal de Chisinau”. According to Voronin, certain media organizations were sued for violating the broadcasting legislation or abuse. “No institution was harmed on the initiative of the president of Moldova. I answer for these words: today, tomorrow and whenever,” he said. At the start of the news conference, Vladimir Voronin thanked the journalists for covering his eight-year work. “I ask you to criticize us, reprove us, but write about us and do not forget us,” he said The situation of Moldova's media sector has worsened during the last few years, according to the yearly reports of Freedom House. In 2008, the organization gave Moldova the worst mark in ten years. In the report published in January this year, Moldova was ranked the 150th with a not free press. In 2004, Moldova took the 127th spot.