WHAT ARE THE AMENDMENTS MEANT FOR?
• 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 te
