AMENDMENTS TO LAW ON TELEVISION AND RADIO REJECTED
arminfo
2007-07-03 22:46:00
The National Assembly of Armenia has factually rejected the
amendments to the Law on Television and Radio as well as related
amendments to the Law on State Tax in the second and final reading,
Tuesday. Sixty-three parliamentarians supported the bill, which is
not enough for its adoption.
The amendments ban transmission of foreign TV and Radio programmes
on Public TV and Radio of Armenia as well as raise the tax for
broadcasting of foreign programmes on private TV channels to 60,000
drams per programme.
Justice Minister Gevorg Danielyan presented the bills to the
parliamentarians and explained that the amendments are based on the
fact that the Public TV and Radio have a special status of state
establishment operating without license, unlike private TV and
radio companies. Hence, Public Television and Radio Company must
wage the country’s information policy for public interests. Thus,
the Company must not be engaged in commerce providing air to foreign
companies. As regards private TV and Radio companies, they must pay
a relevant state tax for transmission of foreign TV programmes. The
Government intends to raise this tax 60 times taking into account
the international practice, G. Danielyan said.
It is noteworthy that RFE/RL programme is the only foreign programme
transmitted by the Public Television. The US Congress finances the
programme. Mass Media report that the amendments are aimed just against
RFE/RL. In response to MP Victor Dallakyan’s question if the amendments
will worsen the relations with the USA and become a reason for
cancellation of Millennium Challenge $235 million compact in Armenia,
G. Danielyan said: "Such processes could take place if broadcasting
of RFE/RL was banned in Armenia, but the amendments just regulate
the transmission of the programmes of this radio company." Moreover,
the minister said that US legislation bans broadcasting of foreign
programmes on local TVs and radios. At present, Armenian Liberty
pays some $150.000 yearly for broadcasting of its programmes on the
Armenian Public Radio.