GALUST SAHAKIAN: PARLIAMENTARIES DON’T INTEND TO CHANGE RULES OF PLAY
IN PRE-ELECTORAL YEAR

YEREVAN, MARCH 24, NOYAN TAPAN. No change will be made during the
current year in the NA regulations-law concerning broadcasting of
programs covering works of the Parliament. As Galust Sahakian, the
head of the “RPA” faction informed the Noyan Tapan correspodent, a
decision about this was made in the consultation of heads of the
factions and the group, where the proposal of Alexan Haroutiunian, the
Chairman of the Public Television and Radio Company Council was
discussed. To recap, the latter proposed to liquidate the demand fixed
by the NA regulations-law concerning broadcasting of programs and to
implement broadcasting based on an agreement to be signed between the
Parliament and Council. According to G.Sahakain, A.Haroutiunian’s
proposal is acceptable for himself, but not in the current
pre-electoral year. In his opinion, the Parliament of the next
convention may discuss the problem in future. It’s unequivocal for the
deputy that an independent, balanced covering of the Parliament must
be secured. It’s also obvious that “recently covering is made
one-sided political what isn’t just acceptable for any politician, and
there are gossips among the society as well.” According to the deputy,
the “Parliamentary Week” program prepared by skillful specialists of
the NA Public Relations Department “is censored.” According to him,
censorship existed in the past as well, but it’s “rather emphasized
recently. 25-40 minutes of the time envisaged for the program “have
some trend, thus, a party play takes place.” But even in these
conditions, G.Sahakian isn’t for changing the rules of the play now,
especially, as the opposition observes the proposal of the Chairman of
the Public Television and Radio Company Council as an initiative
addressed against it and possible limitation of the 3 minutes speeches
broadcast compulsory at present.