“Serzh Sarkisian needs a structure that ostensibly represents public opinion not to allow him, on behalf of the public, to sign a framework agreement.”
“Aravot” presses a member of parliament on the issue of an independent Armenian television company, A1+, that was controversially taken off the air in 2002 and repeatedly denied a broadcasting license ever since. The paper’s report in particular refers to the recommendations to the Armenian authorities contained in two resolutions of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly to comply with last year’s ruling of the European Court of Human Rights to allow the television company to resume broadcasting.
Artak Davtian, who heads the parliament’s standing commission on science, education, culture, youth and sport affairs, replies: “As a rule, in raising this issue many think that the European Court decided that a broadcasting license must be issued to A1+. In reality, the decision calls for holding an open, fair and transparent contest the outcome of which would be beyond doubt. And A1+ would have the right to participate in this contest. Under amendments made in the law, the regulatory body, the National Radio and Television Commission, cannot make a decision without giving explanations as to why the bid of one company or another was rejected. And members of this body that will be elected by the National Assembly have much to do in this regard, as they will have to adopt a corresponding order of holding contests. The point of the resolution does not imply that we should cancel that law.”
In an interview with “Hayots Ashkhar”, “Constitutional Right” Union Chairman Hayk Babukhanian fumes over daring statements issued by opposition members released from jail under the recent amnesty.
“Were the authorities strong, they would have forced these people to respect the limits and be humbly grateful for this pardon. But the authorities are not strong enough… Our party supports the president of the republic, but it does not support the people who have taken advantage of the situation to make cozy seats for themselves in parliament, government, local government bodies and other state institutions where instead of serving the people they make people serve them. It is these people who are responsible for the long-tongued opposition today.”
“Iravunk” criticizes the work of the Russian-owned Armenian Electricity Networks company, claiming that it continues to grossly violate the rights of Armenian consumers.
“This Russian company continues to consider it completely superfluous to notify in due manner its consumers about planned disconnections… Even though they insist that the reason for the disconnections is scheduled repairs, informed people know about the terrible technical condition of the networks and banal stealing in the company. Perhaps we, Armenians, are also to blame for this situation. First, because we allowed foreigners to obtain a major national system and then allowed them to operate in the absence of due control.”
“Aravot” presses a member of parliament on the issue of an independent Armenian television company, A1+, that was controversially taken off the air in 2002 and repeatedly denied a broadcasting license ever since. The paper’s report in particular refers to the recommendations to the Armenian authorities contained in two resolutions of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly to comply with last year’s ruling of the European Court of Human Rights to allow the television company to resume broadcasting.
Artak Davtian, who heads the parliament’s standing commission on science, education, culture, youth and sport affairs, replies: “As a rule, in raising this issue many think that the European Court decided that a broadcasting license must be issued to A1+. In reality, the decision calls for holding an open, fair and transparent contest the outcome of which would be beyond doubt. And A1+ would have the right to participate in this contest. Under amendments made in the law, the regulatory body, the National Radio and Television Commission, cannot make a decision without giving explanations as to why the bid of one company or another was rejected. And members of this body that will be elected by the National Assembly have much to do in this regard, as they will have to adopt a corresponding order of holding contests. The point of the resolution does not imply that we should cancel that law.”
In an interview with “Hayots Ashkhar”, “Constitutional Right” Union Chairman Hayk Babukhanian fumes over daring statements issued by opposition members released from jail under the recent amnesty.
“Were the authorities strong, they would have forced these people to respect the limits and be humbly grateful for this pardon. But the authorities are not strong enough… Our party supports the president of the republic, but it does not support the people who have taken advantage of the situation to make cozy seats for themselves in parliament, government, local government bodies and other state institutions where instead of serving the people they make people serve them. It is these people who are responsible for the long-tongued opposition today.”
“Iravunk” criticizes the work of the Russian-owned Armenian Electricity Networks company, claiming that it continues to grossly violate the rights of Armenian consumers.
“This Russian company continues to consider it completely superfluous to notify in due manner its consumers about planned disconnections… Even though they insist that the reason for the disconnections is scheduled repairs, informed people know about the terrible technical condition of the networks and banal stealing in the company. Perhaps we, Armenians, are also to blame for this situation. First, because we allowed foreigners to obtain a major national system and then allowed them to operate in the absence of due control.”