The Government Establishes Ministry of Information Policy

14.01.2015 | 16:12 

SPEAKER OF THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION POLICY

On the 14th of January 2014 the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine decreed that the Ministry of Information Policy must be established and appropriate provision must be ratified.

The provision on the Ministry was submitted for approval to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine upon the completion of the panel discussion subject to comments made by members of the parliament of Ukraine, non-governmental organizations and professional associations. Thus and so, the following organizations and authorities put forward their proposals: Committee on Freedom of Speech and Information Policy of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, Independent Media Guild, Independent Association of Television and Radio Broadcasters, Ukrainian Society of Magazine Editors and others.

Among the overriding priorities of the Ministry are the following: counteraction of information aggression of Russia; development of information policy of the state and concept of information security of Ukraine; coordination of authorities regarding communication and dissemination of information. These objectives were enshrined in the Action Plan of the Government, as well as the Coalition Agreement signed by five parliamentary factions of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

The activity of the Ministry will be based exclusively on the concept of protection of freedom of speech and thought and protection of rights of a citizen to express one’s position. In the earliest possible time there will be established the Public Council under the Ministry comprising of representatives of civil organizations, mass media and media experts, which will perform the monitoring function regarding the activity of the Ministry.

The draft decree will be completed subject to comments and proposals made during the Government session.