On 4 May 1996, Adrian Nastase, President of the Chamber of Deputies, charged that the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) Romanian-language service was violating Romania’s electoral law by “obviously favouring the opposition in its campaign coverage.” Nastase then called upon the National Audiovisual Council (CNA) to “reconsider” the frequency allocation of those FM stations that broadcast […]
On 4 May 1996, Adrian Nastase, President of the Chamber of
Deputies, charged that the British Broadcasting Corporation’s
(BBC) Romanian-language service was violating Romania’s electoral
law by “obviously favouring the opposition in its campaign
coverage.” Nastase then called upon the National Audiovisual
Council (CNA) to “reconsider” the frequency allocation of those
FM stations that broadcast the BBC. He added that “the BBC, being
a British organization, should broadcast news about England and
cover what happens in London, not in Romania.”
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
licensing, Nastase’s statements could result in self-censorship
and the cancellation of BBC broadcasts at some of the radio
stations
permitted to broadcast BBC programming and any other independent
news freely and without fear of consequence
month and national elections this fall, the broadcasting of
impartial news and the airing of a variety of political
viewpoints is crucial
Appeals To
His Excellency Ion Iliescu
President
Office of the President
Piata Victoriei 49-53
Bucharest, Romania
Fax: +40 1 312 11 79
Adrian Nastase
President of the Chamber of Deputies
Bucharest, Romania
Fax: +40 1 312 24 36
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
