2007 News Archive

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State  Colleen Graffy visits Moldova to discuss Media Fredom and Anti-corruption issues with Civil Society Representatives and Grass-Roots groups.

February 15, 2007

Sergiu Cibotari, Ecaterina Cojucaru, Coleen Graffy

United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy in Europe and Eurasia, Colleen Graffy, concluded her three-day tour of Moldova, on February 15 with a visit to Radio 103.5FM in Balti which recently lost its broadcast license.

The purpose of Ms. Graffy’s visit to the radio station was to find out why the popular broadcaster had been refused a renewal of its license by the Moldova Audiovisual Council despite ten years of successful broadcasting in the country’s second city.  All employees of the station as well as representatives of three other media organizations were present during the long meeting.

The station’s founder, Sergiu Cibotari and director, Ecaterina Cojucaru, told Ms. Graffy that the Council, in its latest sitting, had unanimously voted to reject their application for renewal of the station's license citing alleged transgressions of the law by 103.5FM.  They said that their license had been renewed three times previously and that they had had no prior violations.

One of the violations cited by the Council as a basis for its decision, according to the radio, was that the programming schedule submitted with the renewal application was different from the original schedule on file.  According to Mr. Cojucaru the schedule had been updated on January 19, 2007, to comply with the new AudioVisual Code and that appropriate authorities had been duly informed of the changes. 

Mr. Cibotari told Deputy Assistant Secretary Graffy that the second violation was based on a broadcast monitoring report, cited by the Council, which indicated that during a single 12-hour segment on January 26monitored by authorities, the station did not meet the requirement of the new Code that mandates a fixed proportion of programming in the official language.  The station’s founder added that the new Code's rules were not followed in their case.

Ms. Graffy's decision to visit the radio station at short notice in her tight schedule was based on her concern for media freedom and the crucial role a free media plays in the fight against corruption.  She said:  “We have been working hard with media organizations and representatives of civil society to push for the expansion of media freedoms and for the reduction of corruption in Moldova.  We believe that the development of a free, independent and pluralistic broadcasting media is vital for the establishment of a functioning democracy in your country.”

The Deputy Assistant Secretary also noted the abrupt cessation of news programs of Antena-C radio in Chisinau and the stations precipitous sale.  She mentioned that U.S. Ambassador to Moldova, Michael Kirby, had met with representatives of former employees of that radio station to hear their grievances.  

Meanwhile, speaking during an event Thursday evening, Ambassador Kirby also expressed concern regarding the Audiovisual Council’s decision regarding103.5FM.  However, the Ambassador indicated that perhaps there is still time to resolve the issue favorably for all sides involved: “Perhaps the Audiovisual Council did not have all the facts in hand when it arrived at its decision concerning Radio 103.5FM.  The Council could revisit the case by examining the issue in the light of all available documents and evidence.”

During her visit, Deputy Assistant Secretary Graffy held a series of roundtables and meetings with members of the Moldovan media and representatives of civil society.  The tour also included a lively discussion with Transnistrian journalists in Tiraspol.