An Interview with Mesrop Movsesyan
A1 Plus / Meltex Ltd.

OK: Yesterday, the Armenian President was given significant airtime on Channel Armenia to voice his opinion on the closure of A1 Plus. Speaking at Zvartnots Airport before leaving for Tajikistan, the President said that he respected A1 Plus's news coverage but stressed that he couldn't interfere in the tender. He instead suggested that the station bid for another frequency in the future.

MM: This was just Asian hypocrisy in action and typically, it's his style. Instead, and assuming that we do prove successful in another competition for a new frequency, it will take time to resume our broadcasts. It might take a year and as we can expect the Presidential Elections in 2003, it is unlikely that the authorities will allow us to broadcast at that time also.

OK: The President did however suggest that A1 Plus was being used by opposition forces close to former President Levon Ter Petrosian to create political instability in Armenia. Despite this however, it was interesting for me to see that individuals as diverse as Vladimir Chadoyev, Chairman of the National Union of Minorities, and Vazgen Manukian of the opposition National Democratic Union (AZhM) appeared on A1 Plus to voice their support for the station.

There have also been messages of support from Armen Rustamian of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutiun and from members of the Republican Party although they did not officially represent the position of the Prime Minister, Andranik Markarian. Are the allegations that A1 Plus represents the interests of opposition groups in Armenia fair?

MM: A1 Plus is just an independent company and none of the political parties have an impact on the content of our programs. We have to provide the opportunity for everyone to express their opinions and we can do this because we are independent.

OK: Therefore, if legal action to resume broadcasting fails, what happens next? What happens to your premises and your staff? Will your journalists continue to work as they have done and will they be able to use other mediums such as the Internet to publish articles and analysis?

MM: We will do our best to keep our staff with us and if we don't succeed through legal action we will continue to disseminate news through our Ayb-Fe news agency. In fact, we will also return to the way we worked before 1996 through our TV Production Company and our media training program. We shall also use our web site to disseminate news and information.

OK: Everyone I've spoken to today says they consider the closure of A1 Plus as not only bad for the independent media in Armenia but also for the country. However, given widespread political apathy, it remains to be seen how many people will attend the rally scheduled to be staged in support of A1 Plus on Friday. What are your expectations?

MM: If people are apathetic that's one thing, and it has to be said that the opposition might use the closure of A1 Plus for their own political purposes. There is the danger that the closure of A1 Plus will become a secondary issue. However, we are already receiving phone calls from every walk of life, including children, expressing their sympathy and support. Some even said that while they could forget past misdeeds by the authorities they could not forgive this. I do not know what will happen on Friday but should point out that the rally is being staged by opposition political parties and not by A1 Plus.

OK: We've been talking about the media in Armenia, but what about the Diaspora? Have Armenians living abroad an important role to play in support of A1 Plus and the independent media in Armenia?

MM: I am sure that the Diaspora believes that any money invested in this area goes towards the development of the independent media in Armenia. In reality however, it is allocated to media organizations close to the authorities.

Our independence is under threat and the Diaspora assumes that they have access to impartial information. However, they are instead receiving information from Channel Armenia and other pro-governmental outlets. The Diaspora is being deceived but thinks that the news they are receiving is objective and impartial.

This is a real threat to our independence. If representatives from the Diaspora really want an independent and democratic country then only the independent media can provide real news about real issues. We're not speaking about financial assistance incidentally, but simply the need for moral support.

OK: There will be a media and information component at the second Armenia-Diaspora Conference scheduled for 26-27 May. However, while the Conference is open to anyone in the Diaspora, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs seems very selective in who can attend from Armenia. A number of prominent independent journalists and analysts in Armenia for example, have not been invited. Have you been informed of the conference and can the case of A1 Plus be pursued through this event?

MM: I have not been informed or invited and you have to realize that this type of conference has only been organized to attract money to Armenia. It merely promotes the existence of the new hotels, shops and restaurants in Yerevan.

I also suspect that representatives of the Diaspora have business interests in Armenia, and whether they like it or not, the success of their investments are dependent on remaining in favor with the authorities.

Instead, if the Diaspora wants to have an independent media in their country they must support us morally. It is very important that Armenians living abroad understand that. Otherwise, today's policies will lead to disaster in the future.

First Published on the Armenian News Network-Groong. Also published by Transitions Online and EurasiaNet.

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