ARMENIAN SURPRISE: PARLIAMENT BALKS AT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 001368 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR DRL, EUR/CARC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM AM SUBJECT: ARMENIAN SURPRISE: PARLIAMENT BALKS AT RUBBER-STAMPING NEW MEDIA LAW This cable is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Parliamentarians refused to rush a controversial government-proposed bill on media during an extraordinary session September 26 and 27. MPs were irritated both at the government's tactical high-handedness and at the draft's proposal to curtail broadcasts of parliament's activity. Media representatives condemned the bill, which, among other things, would prohibit non-licensed studios from producing television spots. The bill's provisions in some cases ran directly counter to recommendations made by OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Miklos Haraszti, after his June visit to Yerevan. END SUMMARY. -------------- NATIONAL ASSEMBLY STANDS UP FOR ITSELF -------------- ¶2. (SBU) In a rare show of institutional defiance, the National Assembly refused to rubber-stamp a government bill imposing new media regulations during a two-day extraordinary session called by the ruling party September 26-27. Parliamentarians said they had not seen the text of the law prior to its introduction on the floor, nor had there been any committee deliberation. The government pressed hard for the bill -- including a personal appeal on the floor by Justice Minister Davit Harutyunian -- suggesting that problems or concerns could be resolved before final passage (e.g. second and third "readings"). Government backers attempted to sweeten the deal by offering to remove a measure from the draft bill that would have cut the "parliament hour" television program, but by this point the back-benchers were in a stubborn mood. Observers report that many legislators stalled business by denying parliamentary leaders the necessary quorum over the course of the two-day session. (NOTE: Though parliamentary procedure requires multiple readings -- either two or three, depending on circumstances -- there is no prescribed interval between the readings. In other words, the chamber can simply vote three times in a row and pass a measure in one day, if it so chooses. END NOTE.) -------------- BILL WORRIES MEDIA, OPPOSITION PARTIES -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The bill proposes to change the nine-member National Commission on Television and Radio, whose members are currently chosen by the President, to an eight-member panel, half of which would be appointed by the President, and half by the National Assembly. This provision ignores Haraszti's recommendation that "legislative changes should not be limited to a 'half Presidential - half Parliamentary' board. The composition of all boards should represent the political and social diversity of the country, and should include NGOs and professional associations." The bill also would prohibit the production of television spots by production companies who are not themselves licensed television broadcasters. The measure worries opposition parties, because the licensed broadcasters are largely government-controlled or -influenced. (NOTE: Several private studios in Armenia specialize in television production, while not having broadcasting capabilities or license. This bill would put these firms out of business, while also limiting the availability of television production facilities in the market. END NOTE.) ¶4. (SBU) The bill also contains a provision to eliminate or move to a less desirable time public television broadcasts of parliamentary business. The parliamentary program broadcasts one hour a week at 9 p.m., and for some time enjoyed top ratings. MPs have grown protective of their public television air time -- however diminished in audience -- and this seems to have been the main reason ruling party rank-and-file MPs joined with the opposition to block passage of the bill. -------------- -------------- EMBASSY AND OSCE WEIGH IN AGAINST HASTY LEGISLATING -------------- -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The Charge' sent a letter September 27 to Speaker Tigran Torosyan -- with a copy to the bill's main government sponsor, Justice Minister Harutyunian -- cautioning against YEREVAN 00001368 002 OF 002 precipitous action to pass, without any public debate, a media law whose consequences were only poorly understood. (Copy of the letter was faxed to EUR/CARC). The following day, the OSCE added its voice to the protest, asking the Speaker to hold public hearings on the draft bill. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Though we have little indication of how this drama will eventually play out, it has certainly raised a public eyebrow, and received a lot of coverage from print media, which enjoy more independence than the heavily controlled broadcast media. In its present form, the bill appears a lukewarm attempt to satisfy Haraszti's recommendation while still tightening the governmental fist around the broadcast media. We see no legitimate government purpose in abolishing non-broadcaster television studios; the only plausible explanation is to put additional hurdles in the way of opposition parties' opportunities to obtain professional television production services. It is encouraging to see the parliament take a stand to assert its institutional rights, however we expect the National Asssembly will sooner or later enact the main substance of the government's bill. GODFREY