Armenia to stop relaying foreign broadcasting companies on PTRBC’S frequency
27.07.2007,
01:02
The Board sent notifications to the three broadcasting companies which are relayed on the PTRBC’s frequency. These are the “Mir” TV and Radio Company, the radio station Liberty/Free Europe and the television company Tsaig.
YEREVAN, July 25. /ARKA/. The Public Television & Radio Broadcasting Company (PTRBC) of Armenia announced the termination of the relay of programs of foreign and local broadcasting companies on its frequency from August 9, 2007.
The PTRBC Board reports that the decision was made on July 6, 2007, taking into account the international experience and activities of public television and radio broadcasting companies.
The Board sent notifications to the three broadcasting companies which are relayed on the PTRBC’s frequency. These are the “Mir” TV and Radio Company, the radio station Liberty/Free Europe and the television company Tsaig.
According to the statement of the PTRBC Board, the request of the radio station Liberty/Free Europe for prolonging the terms of the relay was satisfied by the PTRBC. Moreover, the Board and the Public Radio expressed their willingness to contribute to negotiations between the radio station Liberty/Free Europe and local Armenian radio stations.
On the basis of the discussions of the American Broadcasters Board (ABB), the PTRBC Board did not rule out the possibility of assisting the relay of the programs of the radio Liberty/Free Europe through the mediation of the intercontinental radio broadcasting company Ar-Radio.
The Public Radio and Ar-Radio signed an agreement on technical issues of the relay of programs of the radio Liberty/Free Europe. Harry Thatcher, ABB Director was informed in a written form about this on July 24, 2007.
After this, the ABB introduced a draft agreement on the relay of the programs of the Radio Liberty/Free Europe through the mediation of the Ar-Radio.
However, the radio station Liberty/Free Europe circulated a statement, expressing its concern about the RA Public Radio’s refusal to prolong the agreement on the relay of programs of Armenian Radio Liberty.
According to the PTRBC Board, the statement has certain serious inaccuracies and does not reflect the essence of the trilateral negotiations on conventional, financial and technical issues which opened last week.
The PTRBC Board states that there is not any agreement between the Public Radio Company and ABD or the radio station Liberty/Free Europe on relaying programs of the Armenian Radio Liberty on the PTRBC’s frequency.
However, the Public Radio Company, as a gesture of goodwill, kept on relaying the programs of the Radio Liberty and delivering bills on the service.
The radio station Liberty/Free Europe paid bills until February 2007. At present, the radio company’s outstanding debt for the relay services is about $86,000.
The State Radio did not decline the proposal of Liberty/Free Europe to pay the bills. Instead, it sent a number of notes to pay the outstanding debt without delay, the PTRBC Board says.
The PTRBC Board and the Public Radio Company confirmed their willingness to continue the cooperation with the International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) and Liberty/Free Europe as a sign of friendship between Armenia and the USA.
The RA Parliament could not make amendments to the law “On Television and Radio”, according to which the relay of other broadcasting companies on the frequencies of the Armenian Public Television was banned.
The law affected the right of broadcasting the Armenian Radio Station Liberty on the frequencies of the PTRBC. The opposition was against passing the bill, saying that it was against the Radio Liberty. According to the opposition members, it is an attempt to restrain the freedom of speech and spoil Armenian-American relations.
A number of international and local organizations are also concerned about the bill. Z. Sh. –0--
The PTRBC Board reports that the decision was made on July 6, 2007, taking into account the international experience and activities of public television and radio broadcasting companies.
The Board sent notifications to the three broadcasting companies which are relayed on the PTRBC’s frequency. These are the “Mir” TV and Radio Company, the radio station Liberty/Free Europe and the television company Tsaig.
According to the statement of the PTRBC Board, the request of the radio station Liberty/Free Europe for prolonging the terms of the relay was satisfied by the PTRBC. Moreover, the Board and the Public Radio expressed their willingness to contribute to negotiations between the radio station Liberty/Free Europe and local Armenian radio stations.
On the basis of the discussions of the American Broadcasters Board (ABB), the PTRBC Board did not rule out the possibility of assisting the relay of the programs of the radio Liberty/Free Europe through the mediation of the intercontinental radio broadcasting company Ar-Radio.
The Public Radio and Ar-Radio signed an agreement on technical issues of the relay of programs of the radio Liberty/Free Europe. Harry Thatcher, ABB Director was informed in a written form about this on July 24, 2007.
After this, the ABB introduced a draft agreement on the relay of the programs of the Radio Liberty/Free Europe through the mediation of the Ar-Radio.
However, the radio station Liberty/Free Europe circulated a statement, expressing its concern about the RA Public Radio’s refusal to prolong the agreement on the relay of programs of Armenian Radio Liberty.
According to the PTRBC Board, the statement has certain serious inaccuracies and does not reflect the essence of the trilateral negotiations on conventional, financial and technical issues which opened last week.
The PTRBC Board states that there is not any agreement between the Public Radio Company and ABD or the radio station Liberty/Free Europe on relaying programs of the Armenian Radio Liberty on the PTRBC’s frequency.
However, the Public Radio Company, as a gesture of goodwill, kept on relaying the programs of the Radio Liberty and delivering bills on the service.
The radio station Liberty/Free Europe paid bills until February 2007. At present, the radio company’s outstanding debt for the relay services is about $86,000.
The State Radio did not decline the proposal of Liberty/Free Europe to pay the bills. Instead, it sent a number of notes to pay the outstanding debt without delay, the PTRBC Board says.
The PTRBC Board and the Public Radio Company confirmed their willingness to continue the cooperation with the International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) and Liberty/Free Europe as a sign of friendship between Armenia and the USA.
The RA Parliament could not make amendments to the law “On Television and Radio”, according to which the relay of other broadcasting companies on the frequencies of the Armenian Public Television was banned.
The law affected the right of broadcasting the Armenian Radio Station Liberty on the frequencies of the PTRBC. The opposition was against passing the bill, saying that it was against the Radio Liberty. According to the opposition members, it is an attempt to restrain the freedom of speech and spoil Armenian-American relations.
A number of international and local organizations are also concerned about the bill. Z. Sh. –0--
