The information security of the state is the most important aspect of the anti-propaganda law. When they speak about the protection of the constitutional values, it is important to understand the subtle border between the freedom of expression and ensuring of security. We must also protect other constitutional values, such as the rule of law, Mihaela Spataru, of the European People’s Party Parliamentary Group, stated in the public debate “Anti-propaganda law”: necessity, advantages and risks” that was organized by IPN News Agency and Radio Moldova.
According to Mihaela Spataru, there is a risk that the decisions of particular political players and of the voting people will be influenced by particular massages disseminated by the Russian TV channels retransmitted in Moldova. “I consider these are things that should be taken into account when we speak about information security. This is just one instrument and we will not solve all the problems related to information security. This limitation refers only to feature and news programs, not yet to cultural programs, movies or other contents,” she stated.
The MP noted that if the Russian Federation had ratified the European Convention on Transfrontier Television that it signed in 2006, which provides that the news bulletins should not incite hatred and the pluralism of opinions should be ensured, today such problems wouldn’t have existed. She rejected the accusations that someone from the West demanded that the Broadcasting Cede should be amended, made by the President’s secretary Ion Ceban in the same debate. “I don’t think some of those who voted this law did it at the request of the international partners. There was no such request. The Association Agreement or some other documents do not envision this. It is a law assumed by the politicians,” stated Mihaela Spataru.
She said the authorities should find a method to increase the country’s strategic communication capacity and information culture, which would promote the ideas concerning the Republic of Moldova. Broad campaigns should be carried out, starting from education intuitions. The public TV channel should also undertake a commitment in this regard. The national media content should be supported, starting from the local level, and promoted.
“The foreign media products are attractive because they cost. Regrettably, in our country we do not have many financial resources to produce such programs. That’s why, to begin with, we should support the producers and make the people interested in national products,” concluded the MP.
The public debate “Anti-propaganda law”: necessity, advantages and risks” was the 86th installment of the series of debates “Developing political culture by public debates” that are held with support from the Hanns Seidel Foundation of Germany
