Radio România Internațional

Tag: anti-propaganda law

  • European financial support for the Republic of Moldova

    European financial support for the Republic of Moldova

    For almost three decades now, since Chisinau proclaimed its independence from Moscow, Bucharest has been the most fervent supporter of Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Also, for more than ten years, Romania has firmly encouraged its neighbor’s European aspirations. Therefore, it’s no surprise that in Brussels on Monday the Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu chaired the meeting of the Group for European Action of the Republic of Moldova, held on the sidelines of the Foreign Affairs Council.



    The Group is an informal ministerial mechanism, established in January 2010, at Romania’s initiative, with support from France. The Group analyzed Chisinau’s European track, with focus on reforms and action priorities against the background of the implementation of the EU — the Republic of Moldova association agreement. Melescanu pleaded for a firm support from the EU member states and institutions for the Republic of Moldova’s European goals. Besides progress made in various fields, the Romanian minister stressed, additional efforts are still needed. Melescanu announced that in April the European Commission would transfer funds to Moldova, aimed at ensuring the latter’s macro-economic stability.



    In an exclusive statement for Radio Romania, the Foreign Minister stated that this aid is a form of validation of the reforms promoted by the pro-Western government in Chisinau. He also added that one of the Council’s conclusions concerned the freedom of the press in Moldova, given that Chisinau authorities are worried about the influence of the Russian language media. Teodor Melescanu:



    “The recommendation made was about ensuring the freedom of the media and at the same time finding means to hold the media accountable and raising their awareness as to the importance of promoting real, not fake news. Focus was also laid on the importance of increasing state institutions’ opposition against the fake news used to describe the relationship between the Republic of Moldova and the EU.”



    Teodor Melescanu’s statements referred to the new audio-visual law in the Republic of Moldova, the so-called ‘anti-propaganda law’, which restricts broadcasts by Russian TV channels. According to experts, the law is not a form of censorship or limitation of the freedom of expression, it’s just a means of curbing the anti-western propaganda that has invaded the Chisinau media, in particular against Romanians, often imbued with slander and apocalyptic rumors. Pundits say that the stake of such media campaign is both electoral and geo-political. Because, in the run up for the legislative elections due later this year, it only serves the interests of the pro-Russian president Igor Dodon, who has been openly pleading for giving up the European path and returning to Moscow’s sphere of influence. (Translated by M. Ignatescu)

  • February 12, 2018 UPDATE

    February 12, 2018 UPDATE

    Report – The Romanian Parliament’s plenary sitting approved on Monday the report of the commission that investigated aspects related to the presidential election in 2009. According to the report, a series of facts likely to fuel suspicions of electoral fraud have been found. The report’s conclusions were backed by MPs with the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats and rejected by the opposition, who voted against it, while representatives of the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania and of the national minorities abstained from voting. The report will be submitted to the relevant institutions, such as the Prosecutor’s Office with the High Court of Cassation and Justice, the Presidential Administration, the Higher Council of Magistracy and the Government. The report says that the election was allegedly rigged in favor of the rightist Traian Basescu, helping him win a second term as president to the detriment of the Social Democrat Mircea Geoana.




    Military drills — 100 Romanian soldiers will be training, starting on Monday until Friday, together with around 200 soldiers from Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and the US in the Babadag shooting range (in southeastern Romania) as part of the “Black Sea Rotational Force” multinational drill. Participating in the drill from the Romanian Army are soldiers from the ground and naval forces as well as from the air forces.




    Flu — The National Public Health Institute on Monday announced that the number of deaths caused by the flu virus in Romania reached 21. More than 300 people have got the flu so far and over 800 thousand people have been vaccinated against it. Doctors have reiterated recommendations to the population to get vaccinated against the backdrop of a surge in flu cases. According to health minister Sorina Pintea Romania is not yet dealing with a flu epidemic, adding that prevention measures are very important and hospitals and public health institutions should take the necessary measures in this respect.




    Chisinau — The Audiovisual Coordinating Council in the Republic of Moldova is monitoring, as of Monday, whether radio and television stations observe the so-called ‘anti-propaganda’ law, which came into force on February 11. The law is aimed at eliminating the propagandistic messages from the Russian Federation and at protecting consumers from possible attempts of disinformation or manipulation from the outside. At the same time, the law is meant to eliminate media provocation against the Republic of Moldova, by rejecting TV and radio programs that provide information, analyses, military and political content that are not produced in the EU, the US, Canada and other states which are members of the European Convention on Cross-Border Television.




    Baccalaureate – In Romania, as many as 177,000 high school students and graduates from the previous graduating classes on Monday had started the exams assessing their linguistic and digital competences as part of the national Baccalaureate exam. Exams include oral examination in the Romanian language, and in the mother tongue for the students belonging to national minorities, assessment of digital competences and of linguistic competences in a language of international circulation. This is the first time when these exams are scheduled during the school year, several months ahead of high school graduation. The written examinations of the national Baccalaureate exam are scheduled for June.




    Tennis — 5 tennis players from Romania, among whom world’s no. 2 Simona Halep, are participating in the Doha tournament, in Qatar. On Monday, in the first round, Monica Niculescu (92 WTA) defeated Russian Maria Sharapova (41 WTA) in three sets, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 while Mihaela Buzărnescu (43 WTA) beat Ukrainian Lesia Ţurenko (40 WTA), 7-5, 6-4. On Tuesday, after the inaugural round, Irina Begu (37 WTA) will take on the Australian Samantha Stosur (44 WTA), and Sorana Cîrstea (38 WTA) will play against Maria Sakkari of Greece. Simona Halep, who qualified directly to the 2nd round, will be up against Russian Ekaterina Makarova (36 WTA). Halep won the Doha tournament in 2014. (Translated by Elena Enache)