ANC faction leader Levon Zurabyan offered the European Union to support Armenia to have an independent media. Mr. Zurabyan said about it during the National Assembly Standing Committee on April 17, the “Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga”, which was attended by the Head of the EU Delegation Ambassador Traian Hristea. He quoted a passage from the report of the EU, stating that.
-“Press freedom is still unsatisfactory, as there is no progress towards electronic media pluralism”.
To solve the problem offers Levon Zurabyan. He specifically said.
– “We know that television is the most influential mass media, which today is under the strict supervision of the Presidential Administration. If the European Union could help us solve at least one problem: to open a television for the majority, for the whole political spectrum, where all political forces have the ability to share their political views freely to the public, to communicate with the citizens, it would be a major achievement.”
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Mr. Zyrabyan also noted the way, how can the EU support the country.
Media expert, “Protection of Freedom of Speech Committee” chairman Ashot Melikyan said to “ Aravot.am” that, in general, these proposals are worthy of attention, because there really are no independent TV stations, and this hole still remains open. Ashot Melikyan said.
-“Levon Barseghyan once had such initiative but, unfortunately, it remained at the level of ideas, as it was associated with a very large investment “.
According to Ashot Melikyan the opposition member’s proposal is understandable, it is important to have an independent television, but, it is more preferably that it be public TV.
-“I do not think the EU will invest enormous amount of money and a channel will be opened only on that money.”
Our observation that Mr. Zurabyan noted that the funds that provide EU fits to his proposal, Mr. Melikyan said.
-“If they succeed, it could be a really great significance in the field of information, unless of course, it’s impossible to keep it independent because the government will do everything in order to spread their influence on the TV, and there is no guarantee that this independence, even financial, which is important in terms of political will be able to withstand the TV. But I do not think it is realistic to rely on the EU contribution. In Armenia, indeed, there is a need for public television”.
According to Zurabyan`s statement to have an independent Media, the member of “National Commission on Television and Radio“ Harutyun said to “Aravot.am” that there is no independent mass media in the world, they are different corporations, serving the interests of the media.
-“I do not mind if 20-30 channels are opened, independent media, even politicians when they are talking about media they know that there is no independent media. We should speak about comprehensive standards of freedom of the media.”
Nelly BABAYAN
