"A good chance for authorities,not for A1+"
Embattled Armenian television company A1+, which has been off the air for more than eight years, will rival ArmNews according to information released by the National Commission on Television and Radio (NCTR). The list of participants in 18 licensing contests unveiled by the country's broadcast regulator suggests that only two frequencies will actually be contested by more than one company.
Publication of the contestants' bids and accompanying documents is scheduled for October 28.
President of A1+ Company Mesrop Movsesyan comments on the upcoming competition.
Six years ago A1+ rivaled ArmNews in another competition for broadcasting licenses where A1+ was declared loser by the NCTR. ArmNews is again your rival. Do you think the choice is accidental?
I wouldn't say so. ArmNews is now on the air. During the previous contest ArmNews suffered a defeat irrespective of the NCTR assessment. During the past six years ArmNews failed to revive its programmes submitted in the tender. The Company failed to revive as its programmes was a simple fairy tale which has no linkage to our reality.
How will you assess your package? Isn't it a tale?
We have always submitted with the NCTR a realistic programme based on concrete calculations.
And yet, the NCTR is constantly declaring A1+ a "loser."A1+ is even set a record in this sense. Will the NCTR make a decision based on A +'s bid or will it execute another political order?
The fact is that Armenian authorities do not need professionals in any sphere. People who accidentally appear in the sphere of television form what we have today - preposterous television with ridiculous information.
What issues do Armenian TV companies address?
They are concerned with one issue - to protect the "chairs" of the country's top brass but the authorities are already tired of these TV companies as they do their work in an illiterate and awkward manner.
What is your first and foremost task?
We want to keep the public informed of the recent news, the country's situation and future events. If the issue is left unaddressed the authorities will continue to remain in delusion and will try to lead people into error.
The slogan of A1+ Company is "Watch Us, Recognize Us!" Didn't you understand during these years that our authorities are nor ready to see their true colours? Don't you want to change your slogan?
No, we are not going to change the company's slogan. It does not refer to the authorities, it refers to people who must watch us to recognize themselves and to understand their role and mission in this country. This is A1+'s number one concern. If the authorities want, they can join people. It is up to them to decide.
What will the upcoming competition give A1+?
We are confident in our victory regardless of NCTR's assessment. I think Armenian authorities will be far-sighted this time to avert another legal action to be initiated by A1+ in the European Court of Human Rights. The competition is a good opportunity for the NCTR to return to the legal sphere.
The CoE Secretary General announced in Yerevan that the structure is well aware of A1+'s issue. They constantly raise the issue of the embattled TV Company during their meetings with Armenian authorities though the issue is to be solved by Armenian institutions. Don't you think that international structures use A1+ as a tool against Armenian authorities?
Our authorities are to blame for it. During the upcoming competition they can avail themselves of the opportunity to make a fair decision and demonstrate a prudent and discreet stance. Let them take the opportunity.
Many say A1+ is an opposition TV Company. What is your opinion of this?
That is an illiterate interpretation. There are not opposition or pro-government media.
This is your opinion but in the first broadcasting tender the NCTR named A1+'s rival a winner as the latter promised "announce good tidings"
A1+ has never and will never announce good tidings. News cannot be good or bad. If the NCTR feels alack of good news, let Grigor Amalyan [Head of the NCTR] open a TV company and announce good tidings. Today, our people need impartial news.
You say there are not opposition or pro-government TV companies. How do you assess the move of parliamentary and extra-parliamentary opposition who regularly raise the issue of returning A1+ to the air?
The issue is also raised by European structures, U.S .State Department and human rights organizations. If the authorities violate laws, the opposition should speak about it. I think no one doubts that A1+ was taken off the air as a result of the authorities' unlawful decision. Unlike the authorities, the opposition realizes the weight of freedom of expression.
Before its closure in 2002, A1+ had been deprived of the air by today's opposition who were in power then. Doesn't it mean that A1+ is an unwanted TV company for the country's authorities at all times?
Many mistakes are made on the path to establishing statehood. A1+'s closure was one of these mistakes. Thanks God, people who took A1+ off the air before 2002, understood their mistake. Today, they are not in power. I would not like the acting regime to realize its mistake after losing power. I hope A1+ will be back to the air much earlier.
People's Television has been opened in Armenia in defense of A1+. What is the aim?
I was delighted with the news. It is not important how much money is raised. I highly appreciate the idea as people living in Armenia and outside its boundaries can help open their preferable television through their symbolic contribution. I think the votes will be decisive on October 28 when the NCTR is due to open competition packages. The number of votes will show that people want to see A1+ back to the air.
How do your assess the chances of your rival [ArmNews]?
First of all, I wish success to all participants in a fair and free competition. If the program presented by ArmNews is approved by the commission, I shall be the first to congratulate the TV Company. But Company's program submitted in the previous tender and its activity in the information field say the reverse.
Victoria Abrahamyan
