VARDAN VARDANYAN:"FREE MEDIA IS IN DANGER!"

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Here is journalist-analyst Vardan Vardanyan's statement." Our country has achieved 3 vital successes recently,i.e., freedom approvement, victory in the war dictated by Azerbayjan and democratic institutions establishment, free Press approvement in the first instance. We are taking the road of losing the latter.Armenian authorities take serious steps to eliminate free Media in Armenia. Nowadays there is no TV or Radio company in Armenia out of president Robert Kocharyan's control."A1+" and "Noyan Tapan" TV Companies were deprived of the broadcasting right to his decision. It was executed according to the law on placing TV and Radio Companies' under Robert Kocharyan's command. The law is entitled in another way but those to read it more attentively will notice that it's a law just on TV and Radio Companies' subordination to Robert Kocharyan.

Now attempts are made to approve a law to place the whole Media under Robert Kocharyan's authority. Though it's not clear yet what the content of the bill will be, "all ignorable clauses of the preliminary version will be returned by suggestion of those deputees who support state policy".

I kindly ask Roy Reeve to organize a discussion on Mass Media condition in Armenia.I call all the journalism social organizations to support the motto " To take the law on Mass Media out of circulation!". I also suggest to set a "Press Enemy" rewardand award it on 3rd the May - the Press Freedom International Day. By the way, I suggest to disregard such wheedlers like Grigor Amalyan or Ashot Abovyan who performed the order. Either there is no need to award the prize to Alexan Harutyunyan or David Harutyunyan, the more ardent opponents of Press freedom.The most fitting pretender to the "Press Enemy" reward is Robert Kocharyan.