Armenian lawmakers pass bill that would limit foreign news broadcasts
AP Worldstream
Published: Jun 29, 2007
Armenian lawmakers gave preliminary backing to a bill Friday that could
restrict the retransmission of foreign news broadcasts, legislation
critics said was designed to target Armenian-language programs of Radio
Free Europe.
Parliament voted 79-16 to pass the amendments, introduced by the
government this week, to the country’s main broadcasting law.
The amendments would require the foreign-funded news broadcasters to
pay around US$200 (A150) every time shows are re-broadcast by the
country’s primary radio and television company.
U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is the only foreign news
organization whose programs are re-broadcast on Armenian state radio _
up to five times a day in some cases.
Radio Liberty’s FM broadcasts would not be affected.
The amendments would not affect foreign broadcasters, such as Deutsche
Welle or British Broadcasting Corp., that broadcast on the FM
frequency. Neither have Armenian language service, but do broadcast in
Russian.
Karine Kalantarian, a correspondent for the RFE/RL’s Armenian-language
service, said the service would not comment on the pending legislation.
Opposition lawmakers accused the government of deliberately targeting
Radio Liberty, and warned of increasing pressure on independent media
outlets.
Armenia’s government is known to be unhappy with the Radio Liberty,
though no officials have ever publicly criticized the broadcaster.
Armenia State Radio and Television is the primary source of news for
many residents of the poor, South Caucasus nation.
RFE/RL is a private, nonprofit corporation that receives funding from
the U.S. government. It has broadcast in 28 languages to 20 countries,
including Iran and Iraq since 1998, and Afghanistan from 2002.