WILL RFE/RL BE CLOSED DOWN?
A1+
[07:35 pm] 27 June, 2007
Today the Armenian MPs gathered to discuss the amendments to the
law on Television and Radio and to decide the fortune of Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty.
If the amendments are adopted, RFE/RL, funded by the United States
Congress, will not be transmitted on the Public Channel.
Tigran Torosyan declined to answer reporters’ questions as "the bill
is still under consideration."
The report is to be presented by Justice Minister Gevorg Danielyan.
According to the amendments, the foreign media cannot be broadcast
on the frequencies used by the public radio and television without
preliminary arrangement with the Armenian Public Television and
Radio Board.
Under the amendments to the law on "State Duty" organisations must
pay 70 000 drams per one-hour transmission. Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty is broadcast 4 times a day and logically it must pay 280 000
drams a day.