US official concerned about media situation in Moldova

The US Government and Embassy are seriously concerned about the mass-media situation in Moldova. The situation aroused at “Antena C” radio station, “Euro TV Chisinau” channel, and recently at “FM 103.5” radio station in Balti becomes a trend, Colleen Graffy, Deputy Assistant of US Secretary of State, stated in Balti on Thursday, February 15. During a meeting with the radio station personnel, where it was discussed the ACC’s refusal to re-grant the broadcasting frequency that has been held for already ten years, the US official said that the most important way to reach a democracy is via the freedom of press, including the transparency regarding the freedoms for transmitting programmes and observance of property. Chisinau Government has signed an agreement with the Millennium Challenge Corporation, according to which it is obliged to eliminate corruption, but for that purpose an independent and powerful press is needed. The recent events in the field of audiovisual represent a step backward and not forward, the US official concluded. Serghei Cebotari, one of the station’s owners, said that during ten years the station has been ranking first in the region. “FM 103.5” broadcasts only its own programmes and never was penalised by ACC for violations, the quoted source said. As Cebotari states, ACC accuses the radio station of non-observance of the broadcasting schedule and necessary volume of programmes in official language, though over the monitoring period, “FM 103.5” broadcasted according to the schedule presented at ACC. Cebotari also asserts that the broadcasting schedule was monitored during 12 hours, and not round the clock as required. The cited source stated that it is expecting ACC’s decision to be published in the “Official Monitor” in order to subsequently sue it.