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ARMENIAN BROADCASTING LAW FAILS TO GUARANTEE MEDIA PLURALISM, SAYS OSCE MEDIA FREEDOM REPRESENTATIVE
Lragir.am
15 June, 2010
VIENNA
VIENNA, 15 June - Despite amendments, Armenia's new Law on Television
and Radio fails to promote broadcast pluralism in the digital era,
the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatovic,
said today.
The law, adopted by Parliament on 10 June, would need a presidential
signature to take effect.
Mijatovic said Armenian authorities had discussed the law draft with
civil society and the international community, and that her Office
had provided a legal review of the draft.
'Although some recommendations from the legal review have been
addressed, other recommendations that are of crucial importance for
a smooth transition from analogue to digital broadcasting have not
been taken into account,' she said.
Mijatovic said that the law's shortcomings included a limit to the
number of broadcast channels; a lack of clear rules for the licensing
of satellite, mobile telephone and online broadcasting; the placement
of all forms of broadcasting under a regime of licensing or permission
by the Regulator; the granting of authority to the courts to terminate
broadcast licences based on provisions in the law that contain undue
limitations on freedom of the media; and a lack of procedures and
terms for the establishment of private digital channels.
'Armenia should not lose the opportunity to adopt forward-looking
media legislation. New technologies, including digital broadcasting,
should be used by governments to strengthen media pluralism. These
technologies can improve access to information and enable the public
to seek, access and impart information,' she said.
Mijatovic emphasized that her office is ready to continue its support
to the authorities in all legislative reforms related to media freedom.
From: A. Papazian
Lragir.am
15 June, 2010
VIENNA
VIENNA, 15 June - Despite amendments, Armenia's new Law on Television
and Radio fails to promote broadcast pluralism in the digital era,
the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatovic,
said today.
The law, adopted by Parliament on 10 June, would need a presidential
signature to take effect.
Mijatovic said Armenian authorities had discussed the law draft with
civil society and the international community, and that her Office
had provided a legal review of the draft.
'Although some recommendations from the legal review have been
addressed, other recommendations that are of crucial importance for
a smooth transition from analogue to digital broadcasting have not
been taken into account,' she said.
Mijatovic said that the law's shortcomings included a limit to the
number of broadcast channels; a lack of clear rules for the licensing
of satellite, mobile telephone and online broadcasting; the placement
of all forms of broadcasting under a regime of licensing or permission
by the Regulator; the granting of authority to the courts to terminate
broadcast licences based on provisions in the law that contain undue
limitations on freedom of the media; and a lack of procedures and
terms for the establishment of private digital channels.
'Armenia should not lose the opportunity to adopt forward-looking
media legislation. New technologies, including digital broadcasting,
should be used by governments to strengthen media pluralism. These
technologies can improve access to information and enable the public
to seek, access and impart information,' she said.
Mijatovic emphasized that her office is ready to continue its support
to the authorities in all legislative reforms related to media freedom.
From: A. Papazian