Reorganisation of Antena C and Euro-TV should not affect the fundamental right to freedom of expression and information – Vladimir Ristovski

The Reorganisation of Antena C and Euro-TV should not affect the fundamental right to freedom of expression and information and should ensure that the public is not deprived of alternative sources of information, says a statement by the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Vladimir Ristovski. According to the official, this is particularly important in the context of the forthcoming elections, when the citizens must have access to impartial and balanced information regarding all the candidates and electoral platforms. Ristovski says that concerning the reorganisation of Antena-C and Euro-TV, an adequate solution should be found in order to ensure the continued and independent editorial policy and autonomous functioning of both broadcasters, with a view to guaranteeing real media pluralism in Moldova. “In the case of the staff of Antena C Radio concerning the legality of the Chisinau Municipal Council Decision for reorganisation of the local public broadcasting services, I am confident that the judicial authorities will respond properly to the needs of the citizens by fully applying the principle of the rule of law”, says the European official. He also expects that the functioning of the broadcasting regulatory body (CCA) and of the supervisory board of Tele-Radio Moldova (OCA) established according to the Code of the Audiovisual will be based on the minimum standards of independence and impartiality, without any limitation to the possibilities for enriching the media diversity and free access to information. At the same time, Ristovski emphasises that the efficient functioning and transparency of the media sector in general and the audiovisual sector in particular are among the priority areas of the CoE cooperation with Moldova. The municipal stations “Antena C” and “Euro TV Chisinau” were sold to individual persons by the Chisinau Municipal Council in early 2007. The staffs, political parties, civil society, as well as several international bodies draw attention upon the illegal character of this decision, qualifying it as political and favourable to certain groups. The staff has sued the decision of the Council.