A1+’s issue cannot be closed
The decision of the CoE Committee of Ministers to close the case of A1+ TV Company came like a cold shower for the chairman of Committee for Protection of Freedom of Speech, Ashot Melikyan.
"The Committee of Ministers is entitled to supervise the execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). However, the Committee's decision was unexpected as no step has been taken in Armenia in this direction," Melikyan told A1+.
"If the Committee of Ministers had in mind the ECHR decision, we would rather have our requirements met than receive material compensation by the Armenian government. In fact, the authorities failed to meet the ECHR's main demand, i.e. to return A1+ to the air," he continued.
Melikyan reminded that A1+ is today disputing the results of a broadcasting tender announced by the National Commission on Television and Radio (NCTR) in December 2010. In the given circumstances, he considers the Committee's decision as short-sighted.
The Armenian government has worked "very well" to have the page of A1+ closed. They were able to convince the European officials that the company had submitted fake documents during the competition. In fact, the government and public organizations will never find a compromise on the issue," he said.
"The Committee's decision is a serious trump card for Armenian authorities but the issue of A1+ cannot be closed as long as there is a public demand for it. Our "colourless" television today needs new players and A1+ ranks among the best players," he concluded.
