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What Are The Amendments Meant For?

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  • What Are The Amendments Meant For?

    WHAT ARE THE AMENDMENTS MEANT FOR?

    A1+
    [05:02 pm] 04 February, 2009

    The Armenian Parliament is going to amend the Law on Television
    and Radio for the nth time. To put it mildly, the amendments are
    "overdue." Under the draft amendments the list of free broadcasting
    frequencies should be publicised every year. While in September 2008
    the National Assembly adopted amendments to the Law on Television and
    Radio that cancel all tenders for broadcasting frequencies until 2011,
    when the introduction of digital broadcasting in Armenia will have
    been completed

    Armen Ashotyan, Chairman of National Assembly's Standing Committee
    on Science, Education, Culture and Youth Affairs, says the amendments
    are not formal. He says the authorities are seriously concerned about
    the state of electronic media and support the PACE posture in view
    of the amendments.

    "We must clarify the relations between technological progress and
    political risks," said Ashotyan without detailing the aim of the
    amendments.

    Note that PACE Resolution 1643 says: "The Assembly underlines that the
    technical requirements for the introduction of digital broadcasting
    should not be used by the authorities to unduly delay the holding
    of an open, fair and transparent tender for broadcasting licences,
    as demanded by the Assembly"

    According to Ashotyan the amendments will help meet the call of
    the European Court regarding A1+'s case judgment, in particular,
    the Court urges the Armenian authorities to reason why a company is
    granted or deny a broadcasting licence.

    Actually, the working law foresees that the process of granting
    or denying licences be reasoned. Asked what the new amendments
    are meant for, Ashotyan said: "We have added and detailed the
    requirements. For instance, preference will be given to the company
    providing pluralism. You focus on one side of the issue: you say a
    moratorium has been announced by 2011. But neither the Council of
    Europe nor the Armenian leadership has politicised the issue."
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