OSCE media freedom representative asks Moldovan Parliament to improve draft state secrecy law

VIENNA, 26 November 2008 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklós Haraszti, said today that the draft law on State Secrets of Moldova needs to be improved before it is adopted by Parliament.

"Despite some modest improvements, including better defining the categories of secrets and the inclusion of a public-interest test, the bill fails to boost democratic accountability. It would not reduce unnecessary secrecy and other obstacles to access by the media to governmental information," said Haraszti.

He noted that in many areas the draft expands secrecy, including in the definition of state secrets and the types of information that can be classified, and includes a new undefined category of "restricted" secrets which does not require the potential harm to national security to be proven. The draft also reduces parliamentary oversight over secrecy.

"I hope that the Parliament of Moldova will reconsider the draft and implement the recommendations of our legal review," said Haraszti.

The OSCE Representative has consistently advocated a more liberal Law on State Secrets in Moldova since 2005.

Haraszti's Office prepared a legal analysis of the draft law to help Moldova improve its media legislation and allow better access to information. The legal review can be viewed at: Comments on Draft Law on State Secret of the Republic of Moldova