AZG Armenian Daily #065, 14/04/2005

Concern

ISSUE OF A1+ CAN’T BE SETTLED THROUGH DEMOCRATIC MEANS

Protest Actions Ended With This Conclusion

The public and journalist protest actions against the closing of A1+TV ended
yesterday in the rally held at the park of conservatoire park. “Bekum”
political forum held a discussion at the AUA Business Center, where they
touched upon many issues, including the issue of closing A1+ TV. As a
result, they adopted a statement that was read by the end of the rally.

Levon Barseghian, chairman of Gyumri-based “Asparez” club, said: “It is
impossible to settle the issue of A1+TV by all the democratic means we know
in the conditions of the current regime. It is already the third year that I
call the TV and Radio National Committee an anti-national one, as the
frequencies are considered national wealth in the whole world, one can
utilize and get profit from them. The existence of many mass media is for
the benefit of the publicity, i.e. new job positions open, new alternative
advertisements sources are being created, the state budget gets profits.
While, the most important factor is that we have the variety of information.
This very factor frightens our anti-national committee.”

A1+TV is not the only mass media representative that is deprived of a free
frequency by the National TV and Radio Committee. This is the third year
that Levon Barseghian applied to the committee to announce a competition for
2 free radio frequencies. He hasn’t received any answer yet. They just
promised to inform him in case of announcing a competition. Barseghian
stated that if the competition isn’t announced till October, they will open
the radio station without any license with all the consequences, as all the
political means of settling this issue are exhausted.

Gayane Markosian, chairwoman of “Free Chair of Political Initiatives” NGO,
stated that the issues that got deeper in the country should be solved with
the participation of the society, not a single issue should be settled
without public assistance.

“The actions of the public position will continue until our right for the
freedom of speech is restored,” Artur Sakunts, representative of Vanadzor
Office of the Helsinki Civil Assembly, said.

Gayane Markosian read the conclusion of “Bekum” political forum that called
for making changes in our civil conscience. “The independence of each
country depends on the organization of the society and its ability to
influence the decisions that may decide its fate. Today, a situation is
created in Armenia, when the degree of our independence decreases day by
day. The senseless political strivings, the fact our society isn’t an
established civil one made our country transparent for any influence and one
can’t see the prospects of our state’s development. Either the society will
be established and will be able to take decisions or our country will be
forced to accept the decisions.”

2200 signatures were accumulated during the actions. The accumulation of
signatures will continue till May 3. New actions directed to returning the
equipments of A1+TV taken by the police will begin from April 13.

By Ruzan Poghosian