‘NEW LAW SHOULD NOT BE AIMED AGAINST FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION,’ RA FOREIGN MINISTER STATES

Noyan Tapan
Jul 2, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Foreign Minister, Vardan
Oskanian, at the June 29 press conference, commenting upon the bill
"On Making Amendments to the Law On Television and Radio" submitted for
parliament’s discussion by the government, said that it is unacceptable
if the new law is aimed against freedom of expression.

In response to the question of how he treats the stopping of
retransmission of the broadcasts of the Radio Liberty’s Armenian
service on the frequences of the Public TV and Radio Company, the
Minister said: "I will be pained if this happens and I think that
many figures in power think just this way."

It should be mentioned that the government is suggesting prohibiting
broadcasting of other organizations on the frequences used by the
Public TV and Radio Company. The government motivates the amendment
proposed by saying that the Public TV and Radio Company has a special
status and its activity is aimed at solution of problems of an
exclusively public nature. In the government’s opinion, the status of
the Public TV and Radio Company cannot be combined with the activity
of other organizations solving other private problems.