Romania’s prime minister Nicolae Ciuca on Tuesday called for efforts to fight ‘disinformation, diversionary tactics and incitement to hatred,’ as a way to mark World Press Freedom Day.
The prime minister said the current context of the war in Ukraine „brings to the fore the role of the media in giving the public accurate informing and the fight against disinformation.”
„I support independent journalism and the safety of journalists,” he said. „Working in good faith …. with professionalism and objectivity, I am confident that we can together succeed in combating attempts at misinformation, diversion, division and incitement to hatred.”
„Informing the public is vital, especially during the pandemic or the current context, created by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, ” he said.
„The media plays a greater role in this respect, but also has a major responsibility in the balanced dissemination of information to the general public.”
„Freedom and pluralism of the media means guaranteeing freedom of expression and free access to information (which are) the fundamental rights of every citizen in a mature democracy where there is rule of law.”
Media freedom is enshrined as a basic principle in the Romanian and regarded as the top performer in southeast Europe for press freedom.
Reporters Without Borders placed Romania in 48th position out of 180 countries worldwide in 2021 for press freedom.
However, it noted there was „disturbing rhetoric against the journalists as well as politicized media outlets have contributed to an unbalanced media environment.”
The Romanian prime minister added that he „strongly condemned any attempt to intimidate or influence the way in which a journalist or editorial staff in Romania exercises their constitutional rights to free speech.”
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