“If we talk about public policy and public attention to the (communications) industry, I can tell you what we are ready – said the official. We are just ready to dialogue with the industry. We are definitely ready to work with industry to expand the scope of its activities, in this regard, including further liberalization of the advertising legislation. We are currently developing another package of initiatives to liberalize advertising. Including this package of initiatives should be a response to the economic problems that we are now taking place in the country”, – said Alexei Volin.
He also added that “we will definitely discuss the issue and advertising of prescription drugs, and part of alcoholic beverages, it is possible to see if something to think about sporting events such as sports poker and the like.”
the Ministry, according to Volin, will never support the introduction of compulsory state professional standards for the media. “We are proud that for 8 years did not agreed on any of profstandart, and none agree. Because we firmly believe that only the business owner or editor must determine which member of staff with what qualifications they need today,” – reminded the Deputy Minister. In his opinion, if such standards will be mandatory, then inevitably there will be those who will “teach the business owner what kind of staff he has to work.”
Continuing the theme that did not support the Ministry Alexey Volin said that the Ministry also will never agree to mandatory participation in the communications industry self-regulatory organizations, as the Ministry proceeds from the premise that business should be a choice.
We are ready to support the industry from the point of view of elaborating common rules and criteria, including from the industry, ready to join a platform for communication with other sectors and the balance of interests, to support the initiatives of the industry from the point of view of legislative and normative regulation, continued the Deputy Minister. “And we will always assist the industry in defending its interests in case of infringement in foreign markets,” said Wolin.
