Media of the Polish community abroad have a problem…

There are alarming signals from the eastern media of the Polish community abroad that those media will have to face financial problems. The media of the Polish community in Lithuania are also affected by the same problem.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs admits that “there were delays but we have already transferred the money” and they point out that transfer wasn’t possible earlier as the budget statute (which refers to the transfer of money aiming to support Polish community abroad) was adopted in March. Ministry ensures that yet in July the works on the Polish community abroad budget and funds allocation for 2013 will start.

Difficult situation signals already reached the Commission of Communication with Poles Abroad thanks to the Polish community organizations which help Poles living in the East of Europe. In Adam Lipinski (PiS), the chairman of the Commission opinion the cause of troubles are delays in funds transfer from Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This difficult situation affects following magazines and newspapers: “Gazeta Polska” from Zytomierz, “Lwowskie Spotkania”, “Polacy Donbasu”, “Monitor Wolynski”, “Nasze Drogi” from Lvov, “Dziennik Kijowski” and “Krynica” from Kiev, “Polak na Łotwie and “Jutrzenka” published in Moldova.

“In my opinion there are more than 20 organizations which ceased its activity, they consider such option or they finance their activity on their own” – estimates Lipinski.

Zygmunt Klonowski, the publisher of “Kurier Wileński” says that if there is no improvement than the newspaper will not be published anymore as a result of financial problems”. Our debts are huge and we don’t know when the money from Poland will be transferred and in what amount. “We have no information” – said Klonowski on Tuesday.

All Polish media in Lithuania subsidized totally or partially by Poland have financial problems or work disturbances: “Kurier Wilenski”, the newspaper, “Znad Willi”, the radio, “Tygodnik Wilenszczyzny”, “Nasza Gazeta”, “Infopol”, “Album Wilenski”, the TV programme. The “Wilnoteka”, the web portal is facing the same problems.

The Commission of Communication with Poles Abroad will gather on Wednesday the 25th of July to discuss how the changes in financing of Polish community organizations influenced the system of funds for Polish community media allocation. Earlier, this issue was handled by the Senat and now that is from 2012 the funds are allocated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with non-governmental organizations. The idea was to make the state administration, not the Senat responsible for spending that money according to the rules of authority division.

Delays in contracts signing and funds transfer was explained by the not right on time budget adoption. It took place at the beginning of March and only then the Ministry could announce the tender on Polish community abroad media funds use. 

Source:  http://www.wilnoteka.lt/pl/artykul/polonijne-media-maja-problem

Tłumaczenie Dorota Szewczyk-Madejewska w ramach praktyk w Europejskiej Fundacji Praw Człowieka, www.efhr.eu. Translated by Dorota Szewczyk-Madejewska within the framework of a traineeship programme of the European Foundation of Human Rights, www.efhr.eu.