BILL ON “PUBLISHING ACTIVITY” DISCUSSED
Support A1+!On the initiative of Publishers’ Union, discussion over bill on “Publishing Activity” was arranged. Heads of publishing houses, people having concern with the sphere, Justice Deputy Minister took part in it. The bill was sent to 28 organisations interested but only 8 out of them made suggestions and remarks to it.
Publishers emphasise the issue over state support in the new bill, saying almost all the states support publishers.
Vahagn Avagyan, Law author and leading specialist of Justice Ministry says he has studied well the Legislation of other countries, co-ordinating that sphere . Then he introduced in details all the 5 chapters and 34 articles of the Law. He is sure this Law co-ordinates the field, all kinds of legal relations, rights and interests of sides are protected as far as possible – either publishers’, consumers’ or the state’s.
Publishers have serious objections to some articles. According to Hovhannes Bekmezyan, Head of Publishing Chamber, the bill restrains freedom of publishing activity . He considers as unnecessary to register institutions, spreading publishing activity, stating there is no need for a special status .
One of discussion participants thinks the field is regulated by the present Legislation and there is soviet manner of thinking – state control to everything, in the bill.
Issue on the language was discussed, too. The 8-th article of the Law says Armenian is the language of publication. The 4-th plank of the 17-th one says a performer decides language or volume of publication by his own discretion .
