GYUMRI MAYOR AGREES TO RECEIVE MEMBERS OF HEADQUARTERS ON PROTECTION OF
"GALA" TELEVISION COMPANY
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The journalistic community on
December 13 proposed that the mayor of Gyumri Vardan Ghukasian should
withdraw the mayor office’s lawsuit to free the television tower used
by "Gala" TV company and that the problem of this television company
should be solved fairly. The chairman of the journalistic club
"Asparez" Levon Barseghian told NT correspondent that the mayor of
Gyumri promised to discuss L. Barseghian’s proposal to sign a
tripartite agreement among the club chairman, the mayor’s office and
Chap company (the owner of "Gala" TV company) and give his answer by
Monday. During a meeting with the mayor Vardan Ghukasian, L. Barseghian
offered to repay "Gala" TV company’s 2.5-month debt to the mayor’s
office (in case of a reasonale amount of the debt), while "Gala" in its
turn is ready to pay for further lease.
Representatives of 8 mass media outlets went from Yerevan to Gyumri to
cover the December 13 sitting of the RA Economic Court in the Gyumri
court. A picket was organized by the headquarters on protection of
speech freedom and "Gala" television company. The protesters went to
the mayor’s office to inform about their decision to hold a rally in
Gyumri on December 19, at 4 p.m. The mayor suggested receiving a group
of 10-15 protesters, except for the reporter and cameraman of "Gala" TV
company, and answering their questions.