A lower budget for Belsat, the disciplinary dismissal of the director and the appointment of the vice-president of the Russian Interfax agency at TVP World – these are further decisions in the field of media policy of the ruling team, the inspiration of which can be found found at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Today, PiS MPs asked questions “about changing Poland’s foreign media policy.” Deputy Minister Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski defends the decision of the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in this matter.
The former head of the Belsat television channel, after criticizing the decisions of the government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to limit the channel’s resources, was dismissed on disciplinary grounds and forcibly removed from the TVP building. PiS MPs Paweł Jabłoński, Marcin Przydacz, Radosław Fogiel and Barbara Bartuś asked a question “regarding the change in Poland’s foreign media policy in the context of the dismissal of the old director of the Belsat station, Agnieszka Romaszewska, and the cutting the station’s budget by 47 percent.
READ ALSO: WE DENIAL. The head of Belsat was forcibly removed from TVP. Romaszewska: They hunted me. I was escorted out like a dangerous criminal
Will Belsat disappear?
Commenting on the accusations regarding the reduction of funds for Belsat and the dismissal of Romaszewska, Deputy Foreign Minister Teofil Bartoszewski stated that the Ministry of Diplomacy “does not maintain television stations, but gives money for the creation of new programs .” He assured that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would support Belsat TV, “seeing it as an important part of the struggle for democracy and civil society in Belarus.” He blamed the lower funds for the station’s operation on KRRiTV, which transferred the license fee money to a court deposit. He also commented on Romszewska’s disciplinary dismissal.
Agnieszka Romaszewska was and is not an employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She was employed by TVP and, according to media reports, because that’s all I have, was fired for disciplinary reasons. Regarding her dismissal, we request that you direct your questions to this station and not to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as there is no formal and legal relationship and there has never been any
– said Bartoszewski. He also revealed that a major organizational change is planned at TVP’s foreign-language television stations.
It will consist in the fact that all foreign-language channels will be included in TVP World, which will broadcast again from March 11 this year, and will be distributed in the same way as, for example, the Americans and the British do. . There will be a Russian-language, Belarusian, Ukrainian-language and English-language program, but under one “TVP World” banner
– Bartoszewski explained.
The budgets for these stations have been secured and will be implemented
– Bartoszewski emphasized and added that this does not mean that Belsat TV will be liquidated.
READ ALSO: Sikorski’s spokesperson attacks Belsat’s former director. Wroński: Romaszewska talks about money that never existed
Interfax and TVP World
The issue of TVP World changes also adds spice. Michał Broniatowski, former vice president of the Russian agency Interfax, became the head of the station. When asked about this nomination, Deputy Minister Bartoszewski emphasizes this
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs – unlike the Government of Law and Justice – has no control over nominations at companies
– said the deputy head of Polish diplomacy.
READ ALSO:
— Neo-TVP World begins broadcasting. Broniatowski: We don’t want to be a big news agency, we won’t pretend to be big
– SDP protests against the dismissal of Agnieszka Romaszewska from Belsat! “It is against the Polish raison d’être”
koala/porridge
Source: wPolityce