MEDIA GROUPS SEE CONTINUED GOVERNMENT GRIP ON BROADCASTING
By Ruzanna Khachatrian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Sept 26 2006

Armenia’s leading media associations brushed aside on Tuesday a
government bill which is designed to make a powerful body regulating
broadcasting more independent of President Robert Kocharian.

The bill stems from one of the recently enacted amendments to the
Armenian constitution which stipulates that the Armenian television
and radio stations must be regulated by an "independent" state body.

The existing National Commission on Television and Radio (HRAH),
which has the exclusive authority to issue and revoke broadcasting
licenses, has until now been single-handedly formed by Kocharian and
is widely believed to be controlled by him. Under the government bill
in question, the Armenian parliament and president would each appoint
four of its eight members for a six-year term. The current members
of the HRAH would be allowed to complete their tenures defined by
the existing Armenian law on television and radio.

The commission would also be required to "substantiate in a proper
manner" the distribution and withdrawal of television and radio
frequencies.

Justice Minister David Harutiunian, who presented the draft law to the
National Assembly, said these changes would help to reduce government
influence on to private broadcasters. Virtually all of them are loyal
to Armenia’s leadership at present.

The only TV channel that frequently broadcast criticism of the
government, A1+, was controversially pulled off the air by the HRAH
in April 2002. Its repeated attempts to resume broadcasts have since
been blocked by the regulatory body headed by a former senior member
of the presidential administration. Domestic and international media
watchdogs view this as a vivid indication of the government’s tight
grip on the Armenian electronic media.

In a joint statement, the Yerevan Press Club, the Armenian Union of
Journalists and three other groups said the proposed changes do not
ensure the HRAH’s independence and therefore "cause serious concerns
regarding freedom of speech and a fair and objective regulation of
the market for television and radio broadcasting." They argued in
particular that it would take years before the composition of the HRAH
changes significantly. They suggested that the new commission have
16 members, half of whom would be appointed by the parliament at once.

The signatories complained that the legal amendments were drafted
by the government "hastily" and without consultation with local
journalists and organizations defending their interests. They urged the
parliament to delay the debate on the bill pending "public hearings"
on the issue.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress