(Itar-Tass) - The Russian government will examine at its Thursday meeting a proposal by the Culture Ministry on signing the European Convention on Transborder Television, Itar-Tass learnt at the government press service on Thursday.
A government source told Itar-Tass that the aim of the European convention is to assist transborder telecasting and relaying of TV programmes among member states with observance of principles of the freedom of speech and information as well as ideas and independence of telecasters.
The main provisions of the Convention deal with the content of programmes, advertising, TV trade and granting for European producers, as much as possible, greater part of airing time. The number of states that signed the Convention is 37, including Austria, Britain, Germany, Spain, France and Switzerland, reports Trend.
At the same time, the source continued, as a result of the documents examination, experts found disparities of the Conventions provisions to some Russian laws. In this connection, it is proposed to make a reservation, provided for by an article of the Convention, that Russia reserves the right to limit a relay across its territory of programmes, advertising strong beverages.
Besides, the cabinet meeting intends to discuss measures, aimed at improving the position of children in the country (report will be made by Minister of Health and Social Development Mikhail Zurabov), and will examine the draft of new regulations of the Federal Customs Service, which will be submitted by its head Andrei Belyaninov.
The cabinet meeting will start at 10.00 and will be chaired by Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov.