President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko held a meeting with newly appointed members of the National Television and Radio Broadcasting Council, during which he stressed an importance of information security under current circumstances, the president's press service reported.
‘We understand that today, there is a war for our independence. That’s why, having approved four parliamentary representatives to the National Council, the Verkhovna Rada made an extremely responsible decision. This choice is important. It is a pleasure that the National Council will consist of professionals who are well aware of the needs of the sphere and have a responsible attitude to the challenges our state faces today,’ the president said.
According to the head of state, the previous National Council was a symbol of corruption, censorship and pressure on the media.
‘The new National Council faces extremely difficult tasks. In peaceful conditions, the main thing for the National Council is to ensure the principles of democracy, freedom of speech, secure European values in the environment of TV and radio. But today, the issue of informational security has become the first priority. The new National Council is able to prove its authority to society in short terms,’ the president stressed.
Poroshenko claimed that the National Council had to take firm position in the sphere of informational security because “Ukraine faces an extremely well designed propaganda machine.”
‘The population of the Donbas needs true information on Ukraine,’ he said.
In this regard, the president considers it important to elaborate a program of special informational broadcasting for the Donbas. According to him, one cannot allow distortion of facts on the events in Luhansk and Donetsk regions.
The meeting was attended by seven members of the National Television and Radio Broadcasting Council. Three members were appointed by the President today: Yuriy Artemenko, Vladyslav Sevriukov and Hryhoriy Shverk. Four members were elected by the Verkhovna Rada on July 4: Kateryna Kotenko, Oleksandr Ilyashenko, Olha Herasymiuk and Oleh Chernysh.
