Moldovan president meets with media executives

     CHISINAU.  June 11 (Interfax) - Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin
met with  the heads of media organizations to hear what they have to say
about the  conditions  in  which  media  organizations  operate  in  the
country.
    "Moldova  has  chosen  the  path  of  reforms,  which is impossible
without  upholding  democratic  standards, in particulate freedom of the
media. The  goal  of  this  meeting  is  to discuss the situation and to
clarify what needs to be done for us to feel free," Voronin said opening
the meeting.
    Speaking  about  freedom of the media in the country, the president
said that  "there  are  twice as many media organizations that criticize
the authorities as those that are loyal to the ruling party."
    Voronin  asked  media  executives  about Article 16 of the Moldovan
Civil Code, which deals with journalists' punishment for defamation.
    "I  think  the  punishment  should  be moral, rather than material.
Naturally,  one  must  publish  a  retraction, apologize and provide the
opportunity  to  reply. But, as for material punishment, we should think
about it," the president said.
    Some  of  the  media  executives backed the president, while others
criticized  the  opposition  media.  For  example, editor of the Moldova
journal  Boris Marian called for an article spelling out punishment "for
undermining the basis of sovereignty" in the Moldovan Criminal Code.
     "We  must  stop  publications  that jeopardize our sovereignty. The
country  will  be  ruined  with the help of this opposition press if not
today then tomorrow," the journalist said.
     Valentin  Toderkan,  the  chairman  of the Teleradio-Moldova public
broadcasting  company, backed the idea and spoke in favor of "monitoring
some non-governmental organizations."
    The   president  promised  to  study  the  proposals  and  initiate
amendments to Article 16 of the Moldovan Civil Code.

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