The new suggestion of the President of the Council of Public Radio and
Television Company of Armenia

ArmRadio
24.03.2006 18:24

President of the Council of Public Radio and Television Company is
ready to discuss Viktor Dallakyan’s suggestion in response to his
suggestion to follow the Swedish example and provide a separate radio
and television company for all governmental programs.

The state can purchase frequencies form the private sector and give
these to the Parliament. `As for the rest of the known opinions to
deprive the opposition of airtime, etc, I must say that even if all
this is true, all the same the imposition of broadcasting the NA
sittings remains to be anti-Constitutional and contradicts the
European standards of freedom of press, `Alexan Harutyunyan considers.

Another solution, according to Alexan Harutyunyan, would be his
suggestion to broadcast the NA sittings based on a contract between
the National Assembly and the Council of Public Radio and Television
of Armenia. If this were the Public TV, the programs would be
broadcast free, if it were some private Channel, financing would be
allocated from state budget.

`Thus, I want to say that it should not be the demand of the
Law. Besides, don’t forget that a point has been added in the NA By
Law, according to which I am obliged to broadcast three-minutes long
official messages of seven bodies. Can you imagine what the situation
will be like if `Haylur’ provides 21 out of its 30-35 minutes to
Parliamentary groups and faction,’ Alexan Harutyunyan noted.

Alexan Harutyunyan declares also that he will agree that changes in
the law are implemented now but come into force starting September
2007, when the Parliamentary elections will be behind.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress