[Documents/Docheader.htm]Situation of the media in Romania
Written question No 442 to the Committee of MinistersDoc. 10261
30 July 2004Reply from the Committee of Ministers
I. Written Question No. 442 by Mr Stepaniuc (Doc. 10093)
Worrying that the Romanian journalist Silvia Vranceanu of the opposition daily newspaper Evenimentul Zilei has been the target of intimidation since the newspaper ran articles raising questions about the ruling Social-Democratic Party’s regional leaders;
Noting that the body of Iosif Costinas, a 62-year-old journalist for the independent daily Timisoara, who disappeared in June 2002, was discovered recently by police in a forest in western Romania; Costinas’ journalism focused on highly sensitive issues, including a number of unsolved murders that occurred during the 1989 anti-totalitarian revolt which began in Timisoara, as well as the continued presence of communist-era secret police agents in the government;
Condemning the brutal attack on Ino Ardelean who covers local politics and corruption cases for the daily Evenimentul Zilei in the western city of Timisoara; Ardelean was attacked by thugs on the evening of 3 December 2003 as he was going home and was beaten until he lost consciousness. Ardelean has often reported on the implication of local politicians, especially members of the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD), in illegal trafficking of various kinds. His most recent report, published in late November, concerned a local PSD representative and school director accused of forcing pupils to work for him for no pay;
Being concerned about the attack on Csondy Szoltan, a journalist for Hargita Nepe in Miercurea-Ciuc, who was attacked by an unknown assailant or assailants on 26 December 2003; Szoltan was seriously injured after being beaten on the staircase of the building where he lives in Miercurea-Ciuc;
Underlying that other journalists have been the targets of physical attacks in 2003: on 25 July, Carmen Cosman of the daily newspaper Romania Libera and Marius Mitrache, a correspondent with Evenimentul Zilei, were punched and kicked by two unidentified individuals in the street, a few yards from the police station in the west-central town of Petrosani. The two reporters had uncovered several corruption scandals in the local government, in which Jiu Valley mining company officials were implicated. The police investigation into the attack has yielded no results to date.
Noting the letter of Reporters sans frontiers (RSF) addressed to Prime Minister Nastase in December 2003, stating the following: “The growing number of physical attacks on journalists who investigate corruption within the ruling political class, especially in the provinces, is extremely worrying. …The work of investigative journalists is essential in the fight against the corruption that is eating away at your country …” RSF called on the Prime Minister to ensure that everything is done to identify and punish those responsible for the attacks on journalists, “otherwise the enemies of the freedom of the press who are increasingly concerned about protecting their image in the run-up to the 2004 legislative and presidential elections will think that they can, with impunity, use violence against the journalists they consider troublesome”.
II. Reply by the Committee of Ministers
1. The Committee of Ministers has noted the large number of attacks against journalists in Romania with concern. In particular in 2003, it closely monitored the situation of the media in Romania in the framework of its thematic monitoring on freedom of expression. The monitoring activity, which included a visit to Romania by a group of experts, resulted in a report containing a series of recommendations to the Romanian authorities.
2. This monitoring procedure has been followed by legislative reform in Romania. The Committee of Ministers notes that amendments have been made to the Criminal Code and that a new Criminal Code containing more far-reaching amendments in relation to the freedom of expression has recently been adopted. The Romanian Government considers that these amendments will bring Romanian legislation on freedom of expression into line with Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, as interpreted by the European Court of Human Rights, particularly in its judgment of 28 September 1999 in the case of Dalban against Romania.
3. With respect to the situation in practice, the Committee of Ministers urges the Romanian authorities to take all necessary steps to guarantee the physical safety of journalists in the exercise of their profession and to prevent further assaults.
4. The Committee of Ministers has been informed by the Romanian authorities that all the cases of assault on journalists mentioned in Mr. Stepaniuc’s question are currently being investigated by the Romanian police. These investigations take into consideration that attacks might have occurred as the result of the professional activities of the journalists. Like the Assembly, the Committee of Ministers is of the opinion that the attacks must be investigated rapidly and thoroughly and that those guilty should be brought to justice. It invites the Romanian authorities to report on any progress made in this respect in due course.
5. Concerning the fight against corruption, the Romanian Government is actively involved in the activities of the Council of Europe in this field. Romania was evaluated by GRECO in 2002 (first evaluation cycle) and its compliance with the recommendations set out in the Evaluation Report was examined at GRECO’s 19th plenary meeting (28 June-2 July 2004). The Romanian Government has given its agreement to the publication of the compliance report, which has now been published.