TOROSYAN BLUNTS OUR VIGILANCE

A1+
[08:23 pm] 28 June, 2007

The burning discussion on the "RA Law on Radio and Television"
was terminated by a very notable announcement of the NA Chairman
Tigran Torosyan.

Mr Tororsyan announced that the provision of the draft law prohibiting
foreign companies to launch a program on the National Radio and TV had
noting to do with the Radio Liberty. He explained that the "Liberty"
was not a broadcasting company, since by the RA Law a broadcasting
company should have license, while the RL did not have it, thus,
the bill did not concern the RL.

The absurdity is that Gevorg Danielyan, representative of the
Government, had declared in the NA that the provision referred not only
to the RL but to other three companies. It turns out that either the
Government tries to mislead the deputies or the NA Chairman. Anyway,
Tigran Torosyan promised to vote against if anyone proved that this
amendment was directed to the RL.

All factions expressed their attitudes to the bill and as they noted
they were against the possible close down of the Radio Liberty. But
only the "Heritage" party and the "Orinats Yerkir Party" voted against
the draft law, while the "Armenian Revolutionary Federation", the
"Prosperous Party of Armenia" and the "Republican Party of Armenia"
voted for the draft.

Raffi Hovhannisian, head of the "Heritage" party, apologized to the
Radio Liberty and the nation, that such a bill was involved in the
agenda, and urged to improve the bill and then only present to the
NA judgment. "Otherwise, the "Heritage" and the society will say "no"
to the draft", announced Raffi Hovhannisian.

Mher Shageldyan from the "Orinats Yerkir Party" pointed that the
radio would devastate in case Radio Liberty is banned from air just
the was the TV field was devastetd when the "A1+" was was banned from
air and that would be serious stroke to the freedom of expression
and human rights.

Aram Safaryan, secretary of the "Prosperous Party of Armenia",
mentioned that the Council of Public Television and Radio Company
should not be alloted the right of deciding arbitrarily which company
should broadcast. Mr Safaryan offered to vote for this bill for
promoting equal conditions and hoped that other private stations would
be pleased to sign agreements with RL for broadcasting its programs.

In the result of the discussion the "Republican Party of Armenia"
found out that the RL did not have an agreement with the National Radio
and TV. "On which basis the Radio Liberty broadcasts today", wondered
Samvel Nikoyan, secretary of the "Republican Party of Armenia". In
fact the National Radio and TV refused to sign an agreement with the
Radio Liberty without motivating it. The discussion of the issue was
over but the voting is due tomorrow.