March 19, 2007

Information Blockade Against Heritage Still in Force

Yerevan—Two television stations have recently phoned the press department of the Heritage Party to invite its chairman Raffi K. Hovannisian to appear on their political programs. It seems fairly bizarre that following their eighteen month-long blacklist of Hovannisian, these stations have begun to tender invitations in the few days that he is absent from the country. The brief absence, incidentally, had already been publicly announced by Heritage’s press secretary.

If these invitations are genuine, and not mere publicity stunts, those and all television companies will have the opportunity to host Raffi Hovannisian upon his imminent return. Only when these opportunities are realized will we declare that the presidential blockade has been somewhat relaxed. The fact, however, that other Heritage officials—who, by the way, are all in the country—are still refused television airtime leaves much room for doubt.

In a recent news conference, speaker of parliament Tigran Torosyan stated that Raffi Hovannisian’s absence from television is due to his frequent absences from the country. First, we should point to the fact that the travels of Armenian politicians like Mr. Torosyan (which are far more extensive than Hovannisian’s travels) somehow do not prevent television stations from covering and broadcasting their activities—not for seconds or minutes, but for numerous hours. Second, Hovannisian’s trips are far too rare to explain—let alone justify—an information blockade. Third, they are always based in the defense of national interests; in his current travels, Hovannisian is addressing Armenian issues at Clark University and the University of California, Los Angeles. Mr. Torosyan’s statements, which come in the process of a clearly illegal and unethical blackout, reflect a disdain, based on disinformation, of his fellow citizens.

In the same news conference, Torosyan conveyed regret that the debate between him and Hovannisian, as organized by A1 Plus Television Company, had been postponed. We consider this a pledge to take part in the discussion and are happy to announce that Hovannisian will be ready to participate in this television debate when he returns in a few days.