WHAT ARE THE AMENDMENTS MEANT FOR?

A1+
[05:02 pm] 04 February, 2009

The Armenian Parliament is going to amend the Law on Television
and Radio for the nth time. To put it mildly, the amendments are
"overdue." Under the draft amendments the list of free broadcasting
frequencies should be publicised every year. While in September 2008
the National Assembly adopted amendments to the Law on Television and
Radio that cancel all tenders for broadcasting frequencies until 2011,
when the introduction of digital broadcasting in Armenia will have
been completed

Armen Ashotyan, Chairman of National Assembly’s Standing Committee
on Science, Education, Culture and Youth Affairs, says the amendments
are not formal. He says the authorities are seriously concerned about
the state of electronic media and support the PACE posture in view
of the amendments.

"We must clarify the relations between technological progress and
political risks," said Ashotyan without detailing the aim of the
amendments.

Note that PACE Resolution 1643 says: "The Assembly underlines that the
technical requirements for the introduction of digital broadcasting
should not be used by the authorities to unduly delay the holding
of an open, fair and transparent tender for broadcasting licences,
as demanded by the Assembly"

According to Ashotyan the amendments will help meet the call of
the European Court regarding A1+’s case judgment, in particular,
the Court urges the Armenian authorities to reason why a company is
granted or deny a broadcasting licence.

Actually, the working law foresees that the process of granting
or denying licences be reasoned. Asked what the new amendments
are meant for, Ashotyan said: "We have added and detailed the
requirements. For instance, preference will be given to the company
providing pluralism. You focus on one side of the issue: you say a
moratorium has been announced by 2011. But neither the Council of
Europe nor the Armenian leadership has politicised the issue."