TIGRAN HAROUTIUNIAN: WE SHOULD CONSOLIDATE OUR FORCES TO OVERCOME RESISTANCE TO REFORMS

NOYAN TAPAN

Ju ly , 2008

"The problem of media plurality in Armenia has not emerged in
the recent months, PACE has been declaring for many years that
Armenia does not completely fulfil PACE requirements in that issue,"
Francisca Klopfer, the Adviser of the Programs of Legislation and
Human Rights Development Department of Council of Europe Human Rights
and Legislation General Administration, stated at the international
conference under the title Plurality in Armenian Media organized on
July 8 by Yerevan Press Club, Council of Europe European Commission,
and OSCE. Andrew Macintosh, the Head of the PACE Media Sub-committee,
attached importance to existence of an independent regulating body
in the issue of establishment of free press and plurality. He also
considered it important that not only "speech, but also practice"
correspond to European standards. According to him, the PACE last
resolutions oblige the authorities to immediately ensure return of
the A1+ TV company on the air. "Unless actions are done until January,
Armenia will be deprived of its vote," he said.

Naira Zohrabian, the Vice-Chairwoman of the NA Standing Committee for
Science, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Affairs, said that the
package of legislative amendments has been sent for an international
expertise, after the end of which it will be submitted for public
discussion.

NA ARFD member Gegham Manukian said that the level of media freedom
in RA cannot satisfy first of all society, press is extremely
polarized, and society is deprived of a possibility to receive total,
all-embracing information. Hovsep Khurshudian, the Spokesperson of the
Zharangutiun/ Heritage party, said that "the Noyan Tapan TV company has
been closed with no less if not with more gross violation, in reopening
of which the authorities see no problem." He expressed discontent that
under the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights in favor of
the A1+ TV company, the sum of 30 thousand euros should be paid at
the expense of tax-payers, no one has been punished for violations
resulting in the TV company’s closure. "The television sphere will
be abruptly improved with the opening of the two TV companies,"
he gave assurance. Meaning the current TV companies, he said:
"press does not need regulated freedom, if there is another order,
they will again tighten their belts."

Levon Zurabian, a representative of the National Movement
extra-parliamentary opposition, the former Spokesperson of the
first President, had not come to the discussion, he had addressed a
written text to the conference. The Movement repeated its demands:
to release the political prisoners, to return A1+ on air, to make an
abrupt change in the Public TV and Radio Company’s activity, to change
the proportion of staff of the Company’s Board and of the National
Commission of Television and Radio, by equally electing members from
the authorities and the opposition in it.

RA Ombudsman Armen Haroutiunian emphasized that in most cases
the problem is not in the laws, but in culture and environment:
the law should form proper culture. The problem also needs a system
solution. He said that lately the Ombudsman has presented proposals
of 21-page amendments to the Electoral Code: in particular, if the
National Commission of Television and Radio does not properly fulfil
its function of controlling the air, the respective figures should
have a right to apply to the court, and the court within a seven-day
term should make a decision on commission’s control activity.

Tigran Haroutiunian, the Director General of the Noyan Tapan Media
Holding, said that the current situation creates certain ground for
reforms. However, for that, it should be first of all cleared up
whether the formed situation is the consequence of incompetence,
wrong perception of democratic principles, bad and careless work
of experts and deputies or the result of actions deliberately done
by the authorities, the consequence of which was to be the current
situation in media and especially the lack of plurality.

Haven’t the authorities formerly strained special efforts to, on the
one hand, speak about democracy, human rights, freedom of expression
and integration to the European family, and on the other hand, leave
loopholes in laws regulating activity of media for establishing total
control of media and especially electronic media. If yes, it should
be first of all admitted, a legal estimation should be given to that
phenomenon and only then we should consolidate through all constructive
forces for fulfilment of reforms and overcoming resistance to them.