22 April 2004 22:30
Council of Europe condemns xenophobic article in Moldovan paper
[Presenter] The Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers has described the article "Russian Women
II" by Nicolae Dabija, the deputy leader of the Social Liberal Party and the editor-in-chief of Literatura si Arta,
the mouthpiece of the Moldovan Union of Journalists, as an example of xenophobia, racism and hatred against those who
speak another language.
[Correspondent] The representative of the Romanian government to the Council of Europe admitted that Bucharest has
financed Literatura si Arta, but not with the goal of promoting racist ideas. The Council of Europe's Committee of
Ministers recommended that the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance take an attitude towards this act of
xenophobia and hatred against other ethnic groups, a matter which is inadmissible in a modern and democratic Europe.
The Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers found it appropriate to adopt this decision because there have
been recent attempts to defend Dabija's xenophobic article in the Moldovan media. The goal of this decision is to
draw the attention of Moldovan society and the international community to the inadmissibility of such actions.
The representative of the Romanian government to the Council of Europe has bitterly criticized Dabija's article
and reiterated Bucharest's readiness to oppose resistance to racism, xenophobia and intolerance in all cases
without any exception.
Referring to the fact that Literatura si Arta, the newspaper in which the article was published, is financed by the
Romanian government, the Bucharest dignitary said Romania has never financed xenophobia, racism and intolerance,
including in Moldova. Literatura si Arta was financed by Romania without the goal of promoting racist ideas through the
newspaper.
The Moldovan representative to Strasbourg [Alexei Tulbure] expressed his regret at the inappropriate use of Romanian
money in Moldova. He said that this case, along with many others, demonstrates the need for the Romanian government to
coordinate its actions in Moldova with Chisinau.
[The article published on 1 April says that in most cases children born in mixed families are disabled, many of them
becoming delinquents or failures.]
[Moldova One TV] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
