PUBLIC TELEVISION AND RADIO COMPANY COUNCIL CHAIRMAN ADDRESSES OFFICIAL LETTER TO NA SPEAKER

Noyan Tapan
MAr 16 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Aleksan Haroutiunian, the Chairman
of the Council of the Public Television and Radio Company addressed
on March 15 an official letter to NA Speaker Artur Baghdasarain,
on the occasion of broadcasting programs concerning work of the
Parliament. A.Haroutiunian particularly proposed to implement
broadcasting of plenary sittings by the public radio and broadcasting
of a number of programs dedicated to works of the Parliament by
the public television not according to the demand of the law as
it’s at present, but based on an agreement to be signed between the
National Assembly and the Council. The Council Chairman stated at
the same day sitting of the National Assembly Standing Committee of
Science, Education, Culture and Youth Issues, that broadcasting of
the mentioned programs according to the force of the law contradicts
the regulations of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the
obligations undertaken by the Public Television on corresponding to the
European standards. Armenia became the EBU full and equal member in
2005. In the letter addressed to the NA Speaker, A.Haroutiunian also
expressed readiness to meet with all the political forces represented
at the Parliament to discuss the problem jointly. According to
him, the agreement to be signed will function till the end of the
commission of the Parliament of present convening, the type and
volume of broadcasting will remain unchanged, no financial problems
will arise. Responding the Noyan Tapan correspondent’s question, the
Council Chairman informed that he’s ready to come with the NA to such
a solution of the issue “for this isn’t considered as any attempts
made before the elections, but at the same time, for the principle
of editorial freedom of the Public Television is secured.” According
to A.Haroutiunian, in the opinion of European experts, the demand
fixed by the law on broadcasting the mentioned programs contradicts
the RA Constitution and principles of freedom of European mass media
as well. He also noticed that there is not any other member country
either of the European Broadcasting Union or the Council of Europe
where such a demand of the law functions.