Audiovisual Code Draft proposes us politicised broadcasting, UJM chairman says

The most important and dangerous part of the Audiovisual Code Draft is that we are offered a politicised broadcasting, controlled from the political point of view, the Chairman of the Journalists’ Union (UJM), Valeriu Saharneanu considers. The essence of this law consists in the membership of the Audiovisual Coordinating Council. In the whole world they struggle for depoliticising broadcasting, while in Moldova – vice versa, Saharneanu says. The UJM president says that when the Parliament announced it will pass a new law in this sector, everybody was hoping such a document will emerge which will carry out a European reform and will allow Moldova give a very clear and responsible signal that it is a country which adheres to the European community with certain values. But that Code brings us back to the other end of the tunnel. Only depoliticising truly and clearly the broadcasting sector, defended by law, will permit the society to develop, Valeriu Saharneanu maintains. The Draft Code was passed in first reading by the Parliament on April the 6th, by the Communists, Democrats and Christian-Democrats. The draft is harshly criticised by mass-media organisations, experts and politicians. The Code is to receive the expertise of the Council of Europe.