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LAW ON RFE/RL IS BEING DISCUSSED

Politics

“They try to silence the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the freedom of speech”, declared Viktor Dallakyan, the NA Deputy. He was also disturbed by the possible aggravating of Armenian-American relations, by the allocated money of the Millennium Challenges and by the predetermination of the results of the presidential elections. Gevorg Danielyan, the RA Minister of Justice presented the draft law on “Making Amendments to the RA Law on TV and Radio”.

He presented the essential alterations in the Law. It prohibits foreigners to launch programs on the National TV Channel. By the Law on the State Tax the amount of one program is increased to 70 thousand drams. The Government explained that the TV channels which are financed by the state fund are obliged to “Provide the public by the information coming out of its interests only and a radio or a TV company should not be engaged in commercial activities. Until this alteration, the Council of Public Television and Radio Broadcasting Company was competent to give frequency allowance.

Deputies from the “Heritage” party and Viktor Dallakyan made very strict remarks on this bill.

Stepan Safaryan, member of “Heritage” party, announced that by this draft law not only the RFE/RL, but also Radio Hai Lur would be closed down, since the unbiased high quality of the National Radio’s news was a serious competitor to the Radio Liberty, just like by banning the “A1+” from air they closed down the perspectives of other TV channels.

Armen Ashotyan, NA Deputy noted that they were trying to bring the Law on TV and Radio in line with the strategic demands of the National Security. He also mentioned that the Radio Liberty did not have the audience to form a certain atmosphere and influence on the political developments. Ashotyan stated that they did not have to bother after 12 May elections, since the presidential elections would be carried out the same way as the parliamentary majority was elected.

Larisa Alaverdyan pointed out that the law should not restrict human rights it should contribute to their developments.

Gevorg Danelyan, informed that the law referred not only to the Radio Liberty but also to the “MediaMax” and “Mir” organizations. In reply to the question whether the Radio Liberty would be allowed to launch programs by paying the set up amount of tax, Stepan Safaryan answered: “Which independent radio station will provide the RL with frequency?”

David Harutyunyan, Chair of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Issues, called upon improving the law and then only introducing the bill to the NA. Anahit Bakhshyan, pointed out that only the free mass media made unbiased court proceedings and protection of human rights possible and reminded the 27 October court proceeding after the “A1+” was closed down.

It is noteworthy, that the majority of the NA deputies highly assessed the professionalism of the RL and considered impossible the close down of the radio station and ensured that the draft law was not directed against the RL.