(TeleSUR / MinCI) - "The General Secretary of the Andean Community (CAN), Freddy Ehlers, said on May 30, President Hugo Chávez's decision not to renew RCTV's broadcast license is totally legal.

'Legally, Venezuela has the right to do it (refusing to renew any TV station's license) because a country can or can not grant (a license) to the media,' he said.

Secretary Ehlers assured that 'it's not about a suspension' of RCTV's license, but about a 'legal issue that put an end to a license granted y the State to radio and television companies,'

'I think one should keep radio and TV stations developing the right actions,' added Ehlers, a journalist who feels the duty of 'defending freedom of speech in all its forms.'

Notwithstanding, he admitted that 'the media have misused and misuse freedom of speech at all its levels' and there should be self-criticism regarding the media' so that they can 'build, not destroy.'

According to Ehler 'this is the beginning of a deep analysis process on what the limits of the press' responsibility are and what freedom of speech is really practiced in every country.'

RCTV stopped broadcasting on May 27 after its license expired. It was replaced by Televisora Venezolana Social (TVes), which will be a public-service space opened to independent national producers".