On February 20-22 during an extraordinary session of the RA National Assembly
a discussion and vote was held on the draft laws “On Introducing Amendments
to the RA Law ‘On Television and Radio’” and “On Introducing Amendments and
Addition to the RA Law ‘Regulations of the National Commission on Television
and Radio’”. As it has been reported, the amendments to the broadcasting legislation,
developed by the Government, were criticized by journalistic associations. In
particular, on February 15 at a press conference of Yerevan Press Club and “Internews”
Media Support NGO, as well as in the YPC comment, previously published, it was
noted the drafts submitted to the parliament do not correspond to the requirements
of the broadcasting legislation reform that follow from the RA Constitution.
This is primarily true for the procedure of forming the broadcast regulatory
body, ensuring its independence and effective performance of its functions.
YPC and “Internews” on their behalf presented their proposals on the reformation
of the broadcasting legislation (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, February
9-15, 2007 and February 2-8,
2007).
At the voting of February 21 the amendments to the Laws “On Television and
Radio” and “Regulations of the National Commission on Television and Radio”
were not adopted in the first reading at first (65 deputies voted instead of
the necessary 66, all of the voting “for”). After a pause deputy Viktor Dallakian
said his button had not worked and suggested that a repeated voting be made.
In the repeated voting (72 voted for the document, 2 abstained) the amendments
were passed in the first hearing.
