Five NGOs Call on Parliament Not to Discuss Amendments to Law about TV and Radio

Five non-governmental organizations have issued a statement calling on the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia not to discuss the amendments to the "Law about TV and Radio."

Yerevan Press Club, Committee for Protection of Freedom of Speech, Internews Media Support NGO, Asbarez Journalists' Club and Open Society Institute say that the time defined for the draft to pass a second reading on July 20 and for a licensing tender to be announced is not enough for the parliament to design a complete and comprehensive bill.

Therefore these NGOs propose the parliament do a few steps which include leaving only those provision in the draft that directly relate to the digitalization of the broadcasting, design completions to the digital system of radio and TV broadcasting assuming that the Government will adopt them till July 20.

Further they call on the parliament not to discuss the draft until it is presented in the format and content it was agreed upon.
They also call on international bodies not to support the Armenian Government over the digitalization of TV unless it presents a revised draft and proves that it can efficiently use the support to be provided.