NA VOTES DOWN ZHARANGUTIUN OPPOSITION FACTION’S LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE

Noyan Tapan
Feb 24, 2010

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, NOYAN TAPAN. On February 24, the RA National
Assembly voted down the bill On Making an Amendment to the Law On
Television and Radio authored by Zharangutiun (Heritage) faction
members Anahit Bakhshian and Armen Martirosian discussed in the first
reading the day before. 24 deputies voted for the bill, 70 against,
3 abstained from voting.

The bill, in particular, proposed considering invalid part 14, Article
59 of the law, according to which no television and radio broadcasting
licensing tenders will be announced until July 20 2010. This provision
was included in the law on government’s initiative as a result of
the legislative amendment made on September 10 2008.

According to A. Bakhshian, mentioned provision’s implication
is political and has a goal to continue deprivation of the A1+ TV
channel of the air. According to the deputy, by the bill’s adoption the
authorities will contribute to establishment of freedom of expression,
plurality, as well as formation of an atmosphere of society-authorities
mutual confidence.

The bill had received the negative conclusion of the profile NA
Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs.

According to RA Minister of Economy Nerses Yeritsian, the bill, in
particular, is a regressive step from the strategy adopted by the
RA government of variety of services with use of modern technologies
and modernization of the communication and telecommunication sphere
ensuring a high quality.