Tempers have not yet subsided after the incident with Moldova's Publika. TV journalists, who used their JCC accreditation cards for working at an object not related to the JCC and the peacekeeping operation (new school year ceremony at one of the most turbulent spots in the Security Zone, in Korzhevo, suburbs of Dubossary), when new problems arose. Now channel journalists have changed their focus of interest: instead of covering the negotiation process, they began to «monitor» Pridnestrovie's domestic policy issues.
Details
«On 11 September Publika. TV broadcast a provocative report which presented the information on the present situation in Pridnestrovie in a subjective and negative light. There were no reports on JCC sessions on air," says the statement made by the Pridnestrovian delegation to the JCC.
The report in question is available on the official website of the TV channel. «Left bank residents are disappointed with the authorities and do not want to go to the polls," says the report's headline in the Internet. Even despite this report, it is evident why the Moldovan journalists required accreditation to the JCC press centre.
Let us have a glimpse at the negotiation process hidden from an ordinary citizen: JCC sessions (as well as any negotiations) may last very long. This is why the journalist's well-considered question may yield a desired fruit after many hours of work. It is very likely that a hundredth respondent may answer in the way desired by the TV channel. Other respondents' answers can be deleted from the cameraman's flash card.
However, as a Levoberezhye journalist, I personally want to question the legitimacy of this manner of working: if the JCC accreditation guarantees an implicit right to make reports in the Security Zone of the unsettled conflict, let alone the form the Moldovan channel presents information and its impartiality.
I wonder if I could make a video report on an event in Kishinev if, for example, it goes counter both my editorial task and the accreditation I have. The examples are still fresh in memory. Journalists of Pridnestrovie's First Channel, who were going to cover Gagauzia's referendum banned by the Moldovan authorities, were detained when crossing the border. Although this measure was illegal even in compliance with Moldova's legislation …
Returning to the topic in question, let us recall the rights and obligations of the journalists accredited to the JCC press centre:
— The press centre serves to cover the activity of the Joint Control Commission (JCC), Joint Military Command (JMC) and the Joint Peacekeeping Forces (JPF).
— The press centre accredits journalists to cover the activities of the JCC, JMC, JPF.
— Press centre officers and accredited journalists have standard-issue IDs.
— A press centre officer may be eased out of the press centre and a journalist may lose accreditation for the misrepresentation of information.
In this regard the Pridnestrovian delegation has a number of questions to the authors of Moldova's statement №OKK-O3 of 16 September 2015.
What do they call «rude and utter disinformation," etc. in the response of Pridnestrovie's JCC co-chair to the letter of his Moldovan counterpart?
Why do they employ blunt disinformation when referring to Protocol № 679 OKK of 19 November 2009 «Regulation on the JCC press centre»?
Where is it stipulated or approved that accredited journalists can work at any object in the Security Zone, including municipal institutions, without prior permission of the JCC or the JMC and without being accompanied by military observers?
The Moldovan delegation treats these regulations in its own way. The Pridnestrovian side emphasises that no one can use JCC accreditation cards to cover events not related to JCC activities.
«Unfortunately, not once have Publika. TV journalists accredited to the JCC used their comings to JCC sessions to cover issues not related with the peacekeeping operation. The Pridnestrovian delegation to the JCC has only pointed out the channel's provocative actions without insisting on applying JCC sanctions. However, with regard to Moldova's inadequate reaction expressed in the statement of 16 September 2105 with the aim to misinform the public, as well as regarding bold and provocative practices of Publika. TV reporters performing unauthorized journalistic activities violating norms and regulations established for journalists accredited to the JCC press centre, we find it necessary to address the accountability of these journalists, including the deprivation of JCC accreditation," says the statement of the Pridnestrovian delegation to the JCC, and there is nothing to add …
Pavel Mirov
