Published since 07.2002
Published on July 04, 2008
AIR APPARENT?: PACE DECISION NO GUARANTEE FOR A1PLUS
- Point 6 of the original text of PACE Resolution 1620 on Armenia adopted in Strasbourg last week concerned A1 plus television and according to it, the Armenian authorities must immediately provide a broadcasting license to the oppositional television company. Nevertheless, point 6 in the final editing of the resolution was changed. David Harutyunyan, the head of Armenia’s parliamentary delegation to the PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe), said that the change was made considering the fact that under an Armenian law a broadcasting license is not awarded by the authorities directly. “Thus, there should be a usual competition procedure. But from now on an opportunity should be provided to all to participate in a fair and transparent contest,” said Harutyunyan. The PACE considered the June 17 judgment of the European Court of Human Rights that there had been a violation of Article 10 (freedom of expression) of the European Convention on Human Rights concerning the Armenian authorities’ refusal to grant A1 Plus’s requests for a broadcasting license. A1 Plus, arguably the only TV station in Armenia not controlled by the authorities, was controversially pulled off the air in April 2002 after losing its broadcasting frequency in a tender administered by the president-appointed National Television and Radio Commission (NTRC). All of A1 Plus’s subsequent requests for a frequency were not granted by the regulatory body without clear reasons for its decisions to award vacant frequencies to other applicants. Mesrop Movsesyan, the founding chairman of A1 Plus’s parent company Meltex LTD, describes as “a brazen lie” David Harutyunyan’s statement that there are no vacant frequencies in Armenia today. “It takes only one letter to ask Geneva to provide a list of all channels available to Armenia and it cannot be that there is none in the 60-frequency band where only 15 television companies operate,” says Movsesyan. Hovhannes Igityan, a member of the Board of the former ruling Armenian all-National Movement party and representative of the Center of [Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s] Popular Movement, who is in Strasbourg now, said that those at the Assembly understood that the A1 Plus issue was political and the verdict of the European Court invoked an article regarding freedom of expression. “In any case, the issue of the TV company remained in the resolution and the Armenian government must solve the problem, otherwise the PACE will later address it in tougher terms,” Igityan said. Yerevan Press Club (YPC) President Boris Navasardyan says practically it is difficult to find a solution for A1 Plus. “As the first step we suggest that discussions are organized with independent experts and an inquiry is made whether there are really no free frequencies in Armenia or whether through certain state investments those frequencies could be put to a tender,” he says. According to Navasardyan, the European Court’s decision to awarded A1 Plus 20,000 euros in respect of non-pecuniary damage (and 10,000 euros for costs and expenses) does not mean restoration of violated rights. A1 Plus tried to restore its rights in 12 contests and failed every time. “The right of freedom of speech was violated by taking A1 Plus off the air, therefore the company must be given an opportunity of a fair competition. If a competition is held for a frequency not vacant now, another company that has a license may be deprived of it. And television companies holding broadcasting licenses have privileges in respect to the frequencies that have belonged to them,” the YPC president explains. Movsesyan says that’s exactly how A1 Plus was treated. “But I respect all, my colleagues have the right to work. But it does not mean that I no longer have the right to get back into the competition for a license,” he says. “Of course, I would prefer a contest for a vacant channel.” YPC expert Mesrop Harutyunyan says the government policies of recent years do not give reasons to believe that A1 Plus will be given a frequency. “But if they are wise enough they will find a vacant frequency. They will announce a contest and will hold it in an objective manner at least this time,” says Harutyunyan. The YPC has proposed changes in the Law on Television and Radio that it has already submitted to the National Assembly. “The changes will promote transparent competitions. The National Commission will become really independent, criteria will be clear and a rating vote will be taken on every criterion. It should be clear why a given company wins and another company loses,” Harutyunyan says. The A1 Plus head says they will continue their fight and expects to be on the air by the end of this year. “There is a task of ‘reanimation’ in the television field. I don’t want to say that I am the doctor. Simply, I want a step forward that would lead to sobriety and that step will be taken by A1 Plus,” Movsesyan says. “Our focus will be news, this is our trump card.” Meanwhile, meeting media representatives last week Deputy Justice Minister Gevorg Kostanyan said that A1 Plus’s interests at the European Court were defended by the London-based KJRB (CHECK????) legal firm. “This organization presents issues against the Republic of Armenia on behalf of citizens of Azerbaijan and defends the interests of former residents of Lachin,” the deputy minister said. Responding to this statement, Movsesyan said: “Those people did a job for us. Today, they proceed with the case of Azerbaijanis, tomorrow they may take up a case of Turks. It does not mean anything. I will say that the same team defended [Kurdish leader] Ocalan’s interests and today their entry into Turkey is prohibited. They are considered to be anti-Turkish elements.”
- Gayane Mkrtchyan
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Today in Armenian history- 1762 The first publication of Yeznik Koghbatsi's "Yeghts Aghandots" by the Markos Publishing House, in Smyrna.
- 1818 The inhabitants of Zeytoon (Western Armenia) rebel against the exactions of the Pasha of Marash.
- 1823 Birth of Grigor Aghatonyan in Constantinople. He died in 1868.
- 1839 Death of Papa Hambardzoomian, composer and author of Armenian phonographs.
- 1847 Death of Hakob Chelepi Tyoozian, the imperial goldsmith. The "Europe" periodical was published by his initiative. He was born on 1793 01 03.
- 1902 International Meeting of Patriots takes place in Brussels. French public-political figure Jean Jaures (amongst others) devotes his speech to the Armenian Cause.
- 1902 An International Conference on the Armenian Question takes place in Brussels.
- 1908 Death of Armenian writer Missak Metsarents. He was born in 1886.
- 1930 Birth of Mher Mkrtchyan (actor). He died in 1993.
- 1992 Artsakh forces leave Martakert (Artsakh).
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