Epress.am News from Armenia
Armenian National Assembly Deputy Speaker, ruling Republican Party MP Eduard Sharmazanov announced at the October 7 NA session that he wished there were programs on the Public TV Company of Armenia dedicated to the Armenian Apostolic Church. After familiarizing himself with the Public TV and Radio Company council chairman Ruben Jaghinyan's report, Sharmazanov said the “spiritual education of the citizens” should be among the functions of the Public TV and proposed that the company broadcast more religious programs.
“We are pleased with the [spiritual-cultural TV company] 'Shoghakat' which with the support of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin broadcasts spiritual programs. However, 'Shoghakat' does not have the volume of broadcasting that Public TV does. Do you think it's possible for Public TV to give airtime in 2016 to programs in which our spiritual fathers would present the history and values of the Armenian Apostolic Church,” the Deputy Speaker inquired.
In response, Jaghinyan said Public TV does, indeed, have that opportunity: “Yes, there's probably shortage of such programs on air. We'll try to [fill the gap].”
The Public TV, he added, mainly broadcasts these programs outside of Armenia – for the Diaspora. Sharmazanov, however, thinks spiritual programs are, first of all, needed in Armenia: “It's important in the fight against sects. We've lived in the dark for 70 years.”
Opposition “Heritage” faction leader Zaruhi Postanjyan, in turn, inquired as to what the Public TV has done to spread and protect ideas of democratic values, human rights, and tolerance, which, she stressed, was mentioned in Jaghinyan's report as “objectives of the Public TV: “So I'm asking you: which programs contributed to the spread of these ideas? How many films have you shown, how many programs have you prepared to serve this purpose?”
The council chairman failed to answer Postanjyan's questions, noting he would provide the opposition lawmaker with the records of these programs within a week.
“Can't you tell me now how many films about revolution, about characters who stood at the origins of the democratization of various countries you've shown?” Postanjyan asked.
The Public TV, Jaghinyan answered, has broadcast a number of such films, among them – “Spartacus” and “Saroyan Brothers:” “We show the activities of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin,” he added.
Armenian National Congress faction leader Levon Zurabyan asked Jaghinyan why people speaking out against the government were not invited to take part in debates or interviews at the Public TV. The opposition lawmaker also suggested that the channel give equal airtime to the supporters and the opponents of the constitutional amendments before the referendum later this year.
Answering Zurabyan's first question, the council chairman claimed they did not have any intention of not giving airtime to opposition representatives; as to the constitutional changes, Jaghinyan promised Public TV would come up with a format of providing airtime to all parties.