UJM open-air debates reach Ungheni

The open-air debates organized by the Moldovan Journalists Union (UJM) have reached the town of Ungheni; the local community is invited on Saturday to debate on such topics as the state of democracy in the Republic of Moldova, the barbed wire fences separating brothers along the border with the European Union, and the intimidation of the independent press. UJM president Valeriu Saharneanu has told Info-Prim Neo it is for the first time that the open-air debates take place elsewhere than in the capital city. Ungheni has been chosen as a destination because it is an important town on the Prut and also because the barbed wire along Moldova's western border has been the subject of heavy debates lately. Whereas the local council decided to take it down, the central government has insisted, even by using threats, that it stays there. “The barbed wire is actually a dictatorial symbol which the Moldovan authorities want to preserve in order to show that the European Union and NATO end here...”, declared the UJM president. Journalists from Chisinau as well as politicians representing various parties have been invited to speak at the open-air debates in Ungheni. The community in Ungheni saluted the intention of the Journalists Union to hold such debates at regional level too. Valeriu Saharneanu says that the interest for this event is due to the fact that Ungheni is a lively town, where the democratic coalition has a strong say, the press is free and the people feel unconfined. Ungheni is this bridge which brings the European spirit to Chisinau, and this is because it borders Europe, being located between Iasi and Chisinau. The journalists here have borrowed our idea and promised they would hold other debates, too, involving the civil society, politicians and the press from Ungheni, added Saharneanu. Ion Harea, the president of Ungheni district and also one of the initiators of the open-air debates at local level, has said that such events are welcome and more people should join them. “The more you interact, the more you know and the less you let yourself manipulated”, Ion Harea philosophized. Speaking about the barbed wire, the president of the district said that only by such events can the civil society's attention be drawn and engaged in solving the issue. “With God's help, let it be a good start for solving the problem so that we can finally take the barbed wire down and dip our rods into the Prut at least once”, said Harea. Next week, the northern town of Soroca will host a fresh round of open-air debates by UJM.