Moldovan journalists awarded highest state distinctions
Moldovan acting President and Parliament Speaker Mihai Ghimpu today handed state distinctions to 15 journalists and managers of media outlets.
The awards were conferred on them as a sign of high appreciation of their special merits in the protection of the freedom of expression, significant contribution to the process of national revival and promotion of democracy and general human values.
Ghimpu told the awarding ceremony that the press has always been in opposition to the power. People's power does exist, if independent press exists, he said, highlighting that there are many people who have knowledge and values, but many of them do not have the courage to fight for these values.
"You are the ones who stood up for freedom, democracy and fundamental human rights and freedoms during Moldova s difficult years. And to a great extent it was due to you that Moldova has a democratic government," Ghimpu said.
Journalist Corina Fusu, who was decorated with the Order of the Republic, said that in her capacity of chairwoman of the parliamentary commission for culture, education, research, youth, sport and media, she would opt for a free press and for the adoption of a legal framework that would protect freedom of expression and would punish censorship whenever any media outlet would try to make use of it.
The head of the Moldovan Union of Journalists, Valeriu Saharneanu, who was awarded the Order of the Republic, said that the decorated journalists have won a reputation in this sector and nobody can contest this. He said that the journalists regard the distinctions as a sign of appreciation of their labour in the media sector.
Another holder of the Order of the Republic, Constantin Tanase, said that the medal is a sign of appreciation of efforts taken by journalists as well as by the entire Moldovan intellectuality aimed at bringing Bessarabia back to normality.
Following are the 12 journalists decorated with the highest state distinction , the Order of the Republic: Petru Bogatu of the newspaper Jurnal de Chiisnau, Lorena Bogza of the TV channel ProTV Chisinau, Vasile Butnaru, director of the Chisinau office of the Free Europe radio station, Valeriu Butnaru, head of the Jurnal Trust Media, Dumitru Ciubasenco, editor-in-chief of the Panorama newspaper, Corina Fusu, Anatol Golea, director-general of Analitic Media Grup - TV7, Aneta Grosu, editor-in-chief of the newspaper Ziarul de Garda, Valeriu Saharneanu, Constantin Tanase, Valentina Ursu of the Chisinau office of the Free Europe radio station, and Elena Zamura, editor-in-chief of the newspaper Our Moldova Alliance.
Another three journalists were awarded the Order of Honour.
Moldpres, Moldova
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