“CAN THE LEOPARD CHANGE HIS SPOTS?”

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“The RoA Government doesn't think the decision of the European Court was targeted at the Republic of Armenia. Neither did it mark A1+'s victory,” Armenia's Deputy Foreign Minister Gevorg Kostanian told a press conference today.

To remind, on June 17 the European Court of Human Rights upheld A1+'s claim ““Meltex” Ltd and its President Mesrop Movsisyan versus the Republic of Armenia”

A1+'s President Mesrop Movsisyan isn't taken aback by the deputy FM's statement.

“The deputy FM seems to have forgotten that he holds a high post and he must give straight answers instead of deluding people. If the EC says that an illegal call for a tender was announced, it means the National Television and Radio Commission (NTRC) broke a RoA law. If a RoA law is breached, it means the RoA Government is to be blamed. Everything is clear to everyone. Even the first line of the claim “Meltex” Ltd and its President Mesrop Movsisyan versus the Republic of Armenia” suggests that the Armenian Government is the respondent,” said Mesrop Movsisyan.

Mr. Kostanian finds the EC decision fair. And yet, “the European Court focuses on the reasons for rejecting broadcasting licences which result in a breach of law.” He says that the NTRC will henceforth have to ground for acceptance, refusal and withdrawal of any licence.

“Surely, the NTRC violated the freedom of expression as the Commission didn’t reason for its refusal,” said the deputy FM.

“A1+ has appealed the NTRC decision in various courts and requested the NTRC to account for the refusal in written form. Only after A1+ appealed to the EC, did the NTRC admit its mistake,” said an A1+ journalist.

“I didn’t say that the NTRC hadn’t given reasons for the refusal I only said that the Commission had given unconvincing reasons,” said the deputy FM.

“Can the leopard change his spots?” Mesrop Movsisyan said in reply to the same question.

”A1+’S CLOSURE WAS PLANNED BY THE AUTHORITIES”

Under Article 41 (just satisfaction) of the Convention, the Court awarded the applicant company 20,000 euros (EUR) in respect of non-pecuniary damage and EUR 10,000 for costs and expenses.

Today while speaking about A1+'s material compensation the deputy FM forgot his words said: “Kurdish Human Rights Project (KHRP) is famous all over the world. It institutes actions to the European Court on behalf of Azerbaijan. Today the KHRP presents the interests of Lachin's former Azeri residents vs. the Republic of Armenia. ”

Asked what the use of giving additional information about the organisation is, the deputy FM said smiling, “It will help us realise if we deal with a serious organisation.” In reply to A1+'s question what he meant by saying a serious organization - A1+ or KHRP, the deputy FM said: “KHRP.”

Mesrop Movsisyan finds Kostanian's statement immoral and advises him to accept the reality instead of labeling his foreign partners. “International advocates are hired by Armenia, Azerbaijan and other countries.”

Kostanian declined to answer a journalist's question whether Amalian is supposed to compensate €30 000.

“I have already said that our high-rank officials are to admit responsibility for any decision. The study of the decision will reveal the law-breaker. I mean the inadequacy of the legislation which is subject for a thorough consideration.”

The Deputy FM also notes that once the EC has upheld A1+'s claim it doesn't imply that the Company will be returned to the air.

“A1+ has always enjoyed the right to run for calls of tenders. The decision binds the NTRC to account for its decisions while granting or rejecting broadcasting licences.

Mesrop Movsisyan wants to remind the deputy FM and the authorities that he doesn't see Amalian as a scapegoat no matter how hard Kostanian tried to blame or to justify Amalian today.

“The NTRC has announced over 12 calls for tenders of broadcasting frequencies and has never given reasons for the refusals of Meltex’s bids which implies that the Commission should be dissolved.

The fault of A1+’s closure lies rather on the acting regime than on Amalian,” said Movsisyan

Mesrop Movsisyan reminded that A1+ went off the air before the presidential election of 2003 and added, “A1+’s closure was well-planned by the acting regime longing for power.

“I advise the Deputy FM to rely on facts while making statements. After all, he holds a serious and responsible post and all his words are paid special attention to.”