The Romanian Diplomacy through the Newspapers

Railway accident, Ecology and Neighbours Things

It's obvious the whole problem is actually at the diplomatic level and finds its roots in the issue regarding the Bistroe Canal. In this situation the railway accident and its exaggerated presentation tend to strengthen the idea that Ukraine is one of the main pollution factors in Europe. But actually the media impact of the accident was greater that the consequences itself - 43 out of 100 Bucharest residents associated the event wit the Chernobyl accident


By IOANA EMINA DUMITRASCU
from Bucharest, ROMANIA


After the train carrying phosphorus derailed in the Lvov region of Western Ukraine and 6 out of 15 wagons started burning, phosphorus went up in the air creating a toxic cloud covering more than ten villages in the region. The Romanian written press doesn't have enough time to share the news but even so, the first article appeared in the neighbouring country: "Severe chemical accident in Ukraine" - Evenimentul Zilei.

On July 18, first thing in the morning the publishers put on capital letters on the front pages of the papers, news about the terrifying ecological accident in Ukraine: "The killer cloud alerts the Army's intervention teams" - Gandul; "Eastern Europe terrified by the toxic cloud in Ukraine " - Evenimentul Zilei. Romanians began to feel the panic and it's really hard not to panic when the only newspapers that don't serve as a front page the words "toxic cloud" and "ecological disaster" are the sports papers. Official reaction appears: "Korodi: There is no danger for Romania" - Evenimentul zilei; "Romania will not be affected", "We have nothing to worry about" - Libertatea.

Even so, the official actions of trying to stop the panic encounters the obstacles of the free press: "The phosphorus is very toxic" - Gandul; "The phosphorus can kill", " It's a real danger " - Libertatea. Although the toxic cloud's direction was not determined yet they were preparing for the cloud. Forgetting about the authorities mentioned that the accident occurred 250 kilometers away from the Romanian border, and the chances that the cloud will enter Romanian territory are low due to the existent temperatures, the newspapers wrote: "How do we protect from the toxic cloud" - Gandul; "What to do if you find yourselves under the contaminated cloud?" - Libertatea.

And as every first page subject, it has to have the slightest relation with the political or diplomatic area, or otherwise said, the Bistroe Channel is still a fresh subject in our memories and the cesium from the Chernobyl still brings back awful memories from April 1986, the Romanian newspapers create an obvious relation: "After hiding the phosphorus Chernobyl for 24 hours, the Kiev ministers didn't even bother to answer the Romanian calls" - Gandul; "In 1986 at Chernobyl, 56 people died" - Libertatea. Recognizing increasing sales the press remembers that it also represents the society's voice, so the words of a fellow citizen regarding the railway accident in Lvov: "We demand that we receive gas masks" - Libertatea.

The newspapers were sold out, the panic was created. Newspapers received some help from electronic media, radio and TV who did not hesitate to mention Chernobyl as often as possible. Even so, news regarding the toxic cloud vanished step by step. Romanians got over it. You can barely hear some official messages...

After this summary of Romanian press reports it's obvious the whole problem is actually at diplomatic level and finds its roots in the issue regarding the Bistroe Canal. The diplomatic struggle began in May 2004 when the work on the Canal started. Although previously there have been several meetings between the Romanian part and the Ukrainian one, where the attention was drawn on the negative effects of the Canal on the Romanian Danube Delta, the Ukrainian side paid no attention. The work on the Canal began in May 2004. Due to this actions, following the Romanian as well as United States initiatives, the Secretary of the Ramsar International Convention decided to stop funding the Kiev administration for realizing hydrological constructions, placing Ukraine on a waiting list.

In this situation the railway accident and its exaggerated presentation tend to strengthen the idea that Ukraine is one of the main pollution factors in Europe. The solution of the Secretary of the Ramsar Convention already places Ukraine in a delicate spot in front of the international institutions and conventions. Further more, as a result of the railway accident, the Romanian Minister of Environment declares that the accident as well as the lack of cooperation will be brought up to the attention of the Espoo convention. Besides losing credibility at international level, Ukraine lost its products credibility on the Romanian market. But actually the media impact of the accident was greater that the consequences itself as 43 out of 100 Bucharest residents associated the event wit the Chernobyl accident. So, what do you think how will the request on the Romanian market for Ukrainian products in the next two or three years evolve?