The real reason for trying to stop TVR1’s retransmission in Moldova is the Romania-phobia that has become a convenient policy for some circles in Chisinau. Info-Prim Neo interview with Alexandru Dorogan, chairman of the Electronic Press Association

[- The public opinion in Moldova is now focused on the possible halt in the retransmission of TVR1. Why do you think that the people are so concerned about this issue?] The decision to broadcast the programmes of the Romanian Television in Moldova represented the public and national interest expressed firstly at a meeting in the Great National Assembly Square in 1990, when it was voted to retransmit the Romanian Television’s programmes, at the suggestion of the population. As from October 1990, under an ordinance by the Ministry of Informatics, Information and Communications, the population started to receive this channel. Initially, there was used a transmitter located in Chisinau that covered a territory of 15 km. Under a decision made by the Parliament’s presidium on February 1, 1992 and by order of the same Ministry, the state-owned enterprise “Radiocommunications” started to broadcast the Romanian television through a network of transmitters used to relay the second programme of the central television of the USSR (the state-owned Network No.2) and that covered about 80% of the territory. The broadcasting was financed from the state budget through the National Radio-Television, which, in turn, put out the programmes of Radio Moldova International through the transmitters located in Romania. The expenses were covered by the Romanian side. Later, the retransmission of TVR1 began to be regulated by intergovernmental agreements. It should be noted that the Parliament’s decision of 1998 regarding the public networks broadcasting in Moldova says that the Network No.1 is to be used by the Sate Company “Teleradio-Moldova”, the Network No.2 by the Romanian television and the Network No.3 by Russian and Ukrainian TV channels. This shows that the broadcasting of TVR1 depends greatly on the decisions taken at governmental level and that this represents the Moldovan people’s will, which did not change if taking into account the attention with which it follows the developments related to the retransmission of TVR1. [- What do you think about the BCC’s decision of July 31 to sell the Network No.2, which relays the channel TVR1?] The given decision of the Broadcasting Coordination Council (BCC) comes as an answer to a letter by the Ministry of Information Development, which asks that the Network be put up for contest. This runs counter to article 68, point 8 of the Broadcasting Code, which says that the broadcast licenses issued to radio broadcasters before the given code takes effect remain in force until their term expires. The Romanian Television Corporation possesses a license allowing it to retransmit TVR1 in Moldova. The license is valid until 2011. There was no reason for putting the network up for sale because the license is still valid. Therefore, the given decision was taken by flagrantly violating the legislation and it defies the public interest. I think that this decision reveals the imperfection of the Broadcasting Code, which does not clearly specify the status of the international broadcasting agreements. We witnessed a situation, when the BCC put up for tender the frequencies of a TV channel that broadcasts in Moldova under intergovernmental agreements and in accordance with the Moldovan population’s wishes, following a simple request from the Ministry of Information Development. Besides the fact that the BCC’s decision was adopted by violating the legislation, it is also hasty and not in compliance with the strategy for covering the national territory with broadcasting services for 2007 – 2010. Let us suppose that Romania will not be able to cover the retransmission expenses, though this is rather improbable because the Romanian Government has already allocated the necessary resources for covering these expenses. In such a case, this network of frequencies should be put up for tender only after the BCC presents clear requirements and specifies clearly what TV channel it wants. [- Two companies have applied for the network that relays TVR1. One of them intends to retransmit most of the programmes of TVR1. Isn’t it enough?] I consider that the society’s efforts in the past years were directed towards reforming the broadcasting sector so that it meets the public interest. We wished this when the new Broadcasting Code was adopted and when the new composition of the BCC was appointed. A public channel should not be broadcast by merchants, especially if the authors intend to intervene in the editorial policy of TVR1 with their own programmes. I think that this is an outdated practice for Moldova. [- The financial reason was invoked when putting the network up for sale …] This is an artificial reason. In compliance with the Broadcasting Code, the BCC supervises the way in which the broadcasters fulfil the terms of the licenses as well as the legislation. As regards the financial relations, the rights and obligations result from the bilateral agreements signed at governmental level. In such a way, the fact that in its letter to the BCC, the Ministry of Information Development did not foresee a source of financing that could be identified by the Romanian side for retransmitting TVR1 in Moldova is not a reason for selling the given frequencies. The Ministry’s pretext served only as reason for the BBC to make such a decision, which is not legal. [- Which is the real reason then?] The real reason of the attempt to stop the retransmission of TVR1 in Moldova is the Romania-phobia that has become a convenient policy for some circles in Moldova lately. But we should not forget that similar attempts were made in 2002-2003. The public opinion did not allow to halt the retransmission of the Romanian programme then. Now it seems that the people are better informed and understand better what is happening. I think that the BBC members, who also became more informed in the meantime, should cancel the decision and re-empower the license holder – the Romanian Television Corporation – with the right to retransmit TVR1 in Moldova. [- How should the Romanian Television Corporation act in such a situation?] The Romanian Television Corporation should have a firmer position, protect the rights provided by the broadcast license and act to meet Moldovan population’s interest in TVR1. The applicants for the state-owned Network No.2 say they will broadcast the programmes of TVR1 to a greater or lesser extent, but the Romanian Television Corporation is ready to broadcast the channel in the existent format and asks that its frequencies be withdrawn from contest. In fact, I cannot imagine how one can apply for frequencies that belong to another TV channel (TVR1’s license is valid by 2011) and plan to retransmit the programmes of the same channel. It’s difficult to understand and hard to imagine and I hope that the BCC members will identify a correct solution by respecting the rights of the license owner, protecting the public interest and eliminating the increasing suspicion that there are political and other kinds of interests in this area.