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OSCE CALLS FOR AMENDMENTS TO ARMENIA'S DRAFT BROADCAST LAW TO PROMOTE MEDIA PLURALISM
Tert.am
02.06.10
OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic urged
Monday on Armenian authorities to bring the country's draft broadcast
law in line with OSCE and international standards before it is adopted.
"If adopted in its present form, the law would not guarantee pluralism
in the broadcasting sector. The draft also fails to offer a solid
basis for the upcoming process of digitalization," Mijatovic said. "A
good draft can safeguard independence of the broadcasters, thus
promoting media freedom and at the same time stimulate a competitive
and economically vibrant broadcasting sector in Armenia."
Mijatovic said that Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan had reassured
her during a recent visit to Armenia that the recommendations of her
Office and those from civil society would be taken into account when
finalizing the law. She welcomed the fact that the draft law was
publicly discussed in the Parliament.
On 20 May, the draft law was adopted by the Armenian Parliament in
a first reading, shortly after it was made public. Four days later,
before the public parliamentary hearing of the draft, Mijatovic's
office provided a legal review of the latest amendments to the law,
detailing several areas of concern. The review, submitted to the
Armenian authorities, also includes recommendations for amendments.
According to the review, shortcomings in the draft include:
A failure to oblige the National Commission for TV and Radio (NCTR)
to explain any rejections of applications for broadcasting licenses; An
indefinite delay to set up private digital channels while terminating
analogue broadcasting by 20 July 2013. This can violate competition
rules; It does not oblige the NCTR to make its frequency plans public
at least once a year. This can make the procedure of licensing and
tenders, the exact capacity and number of frequencies subject to
different interpretations; A lack of clear rules for satellite, mobile
telephone and online broadcasting, and an attempt to place all forms of
broadcasting under a strict regime of licensing or permission by the
NCTR; It does not follow international standards in the selection and
appointment of members of the Council for Public Television and Radio,
and A limit to the number of broadcast channels without any explanation
From: A. Papazian
Tert.am
02.06.10
OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic urged
Monday on Armenian authorities to bring the country's draft broadcast
law in line with OSCE and international standards before it is adopted.
"If adopted in its present form, the law would not guarantee pluralism
in the broadcasting sector. The draft also fails to offer a solid
basis for the upcoming process of digitalization," Mijatovic said. "A
good draft can safeguard independence of the broadcasters, thus
promoting media freedom and at the same time stimulate a competitive
and economically vibrant broadcasting sector in Armenia."
Mijatovic said that Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan had reassured
her during a recent visit to Armenia that the recommendations of her
Office and those from civil society would be taken into account when
finalizing the law. She welcomed the fact that the draft law was
publicly discussed in the Parliament.
On 20 May, the draft law was adopted by the Armenian Parliament in
a first reading, shortly after it was made public. Four days later,
before the public parliamentary hearing of the draft, Mijatovic's
office provided a legal review of the latest amendments to the law,
detailing several areas of concern. The review, submitted to the
Armenian authorities, also includes recommendations for amendments.
According to the review, shortcomings in the draft include:
A failure to oblige the National Commission for TV and Radio (NCTR)
to explain any rejections of applications for broadcasting licenses; An
indefinite delay to set up private digital channels while terminating
analogue broadcasting by 20 July 2013. This can violate competition
rules; It does not oblige the NCTR to make its frequency plans public
at least once a year. This can make the procedure of licensing and
tenders, the exact capacity and number of frequencies subject to
different interpretations; A lack of clear rules for satellite, mobile
telephone and online broadcasting, and an attempt to place all forms of
broadcasting under a strict regime of licensing or permission by the
NCTR; It does not follow international standards in the selection and
appointment of members of the Council for Public Television and Radio,
and A limit to the number of broadcast channels without any explanation
From: A. Papazian