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CHANGES TO ARMENIAN MEDIA LAW LACK IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISMS
Aravot
Feb 27 2009
Armenia
Representatives of the Armenian opposition believe that recent changes
to Armenia's law on "Radio and TV" will not help the A1plus independent
TV channel to renew broadcasting whereas representatives of the ruling
party reject criticism regarding the law.
MP Ahanit Bakhshyan of the opposition Heritage faction believes
that the changes "do not provide an opportunity to solve the issue
of A1plus issue" whereas MP Armen Ashotyan of the ruling Republican
Party of Armenia said the law does not contradict resolution of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which warned the
Armenian government against "delaying an open, fair and transparent
tender" for broadcasting licenses, the paper reported.
The A1plus TV (which now is published as a website) went off the air
in 2002 after losing its broadcasting license and reported biased
attitude from the government. The European Court of Human Rights
(ECHU) issued a verdict in 2008 advising the Armenian government to
provide the A1plus with an opportunity to broadcast.
However, the parliament adopted a law in September 2008, according
to which the first tender for distribution of new TV frequencies
can be held no earlier than in 2010 due to introduction of digital
broadcasting in the country.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) commented
on the law in its 1643 resolution saying that "technical requirements
for introduction of digital broadcasting" in Armenia should not be
a reason for delaying "an open, fair and transparent tender" for
broadcasting licenses, the paper said.
According to changes in the "Procedures of the National TV and Radio
Commission [NTRC]", the NTRC has to take into account "feasibility"
of the TV business plan, "diversity" and "pluralism" of its programs,
the paper said. However, the paper believes that the NTRC does not
carry out its control over compliance of TVs' operations with their
license proposals and that restrictions envisaged in the law yet need
to be carried out in practice.
Aravot
Feb 27 2009
Armenia
Representatives of the Armenian opposition believe that recent changes
to Armenia's law on "Radio and TV" will not help the A1plus independent
TV channel to renew broadcasting whereas representatives of the ruling
party reject criticism regarding the law.
MP Ahanit Bakhshyan of the opposition Heritage faction believes
that the changes "do not provide an opportunity to solve the issue
of A1plus issue" whereas MP Armen Ashotyan of the ruling Republican
Party of Armenia said the law does not contradict resolution of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which warned the
Armenian government against "delaying an open, fair and transparent
tender" for broadcasting licenses, the paper reported.
The A1plus TV (which now is published as a website) went off the air
in 2002 after losing its broadcasting license and reported biased
attitude from the government. The European Court of Human Rights
(ECHU) issued a verdict in 2008 advising the Armenian government to
provide the A1plus with an opportunity to broadcast.
However, the parliament adopted a law in September 2008, according
to which the first tender for distribution of new TV frequencies
can be held no earlier than in 2010 due to introduction of digital
broadcasting in the country.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) commented
on the law in its 1643 resolution saying that "technical requirements
for introduction of digital broadcasting" in Armenia should not be
a reason for delaying "an open, fair and transparent tender" for
broadcasting licenses, the paper said.
According to changes in the "Procedures of the National TV and Radio
Commission [NTRC]", the NTRC has to take into account "feasibility"
of the TV business plan, "diversity" and "pluralism" of its programs,
the paper said. However, the paper believes that the NTRC does not
carry out its control over compliance of TVs' operations with their
license proposals and that restrictions envisaged in the law yet need
to be carried out in practice.