British Ambassador John Beyer hosts reception for new BBC World Service office in Chisinau

The British Ambassador to Moldova, Mr. John Beyer, hosted a reception on the occasion of the inauguration of the new Chisinau office of the BBC World Service, Romanian Service, according to a press release of the British Embassy to Moldova. Welcoming the guests, Ambassador Beyer said that “the BBC has an excellent record all around the world for speaking the truth and telling the story as it is. I hope that having a BBC full office here will act as an example to other media in Moldova to follow a similar independent way”. The embassy said that the head of the Romanian Service, Mr. Razvan Scortea, emphasised the importance of a constant dialogue and openness between journalists and decision-makers. “The BBC’s principles are impartiality, correctness, and fair-play. The partnership is needed for the benefit of our listeners.” The president of the Parliament, Mr. Marian Lupu, stated that the presence of the BBC in Moldova would oblige the rest of the media to bring themselves up to the highest journalistic standards. “A player with an extraordinary performance is coming to Moldova, and with this another level of professionalism, new ethical standards and approaches”, said Speaker Marian Lupu. The reception was attended by top political figures, among them Moldova’s former presidents, Mr. Mircea Snegur and Mr. Petru Lucinschi; the main parliamentary party leaders; leading journalists and opinion formers; political analysts and representatives of civil-society – all partners of the BBC since the independence of Moldova. The BBC World Service was represented by Mr. Lucio Mesquita, director for America and Europe Region; Mr. Razvan Scortea, the head of the Romanian Service, Mr. Petru Clej, the deputy head of the Romanian Service, and Alexandru Cantir, the head of the BBC Office in Chisinau.