Despite amendments, Armenia’s new Law on Television and Radio fails to promote broadcast pluralism in the digital era, said the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatovic.

She noted that Armenian authorities have discussed the document with the representatives of civil society and international organizations, OSCE also provided a legal review of the draft, OSCE press release reads.

“Although some recommendations from the legal review have been addressed, other recommendations that are of crucial importance for a smooth transition from analogue to digital broadcasting have not been taken into account,” she stated.

Mijatovic also stressed that the law’s shortcomings included the granting of authority to the courts to terminate broadcast licenses based on provisions in the law that contain undue limitations on freedom of the media, as well as a lack of procedures and terms for the establishment of private digital channels.

‘New technologies, including digital broadcasting, should be used by governments to strengthen media pluralism,” she emphasized, adding that OSCE is ready to continue its support to the authorities in all legislative reforms related to media freedom.

The law on amendments to TV and Radio broadcasting was approved on June 10 2010.