Armenian companies that distribute print media materials worry about the news that, according to the law, as of December 14, 2004 the companies distributing print media materials are to be licensed. It is worth to mention that in 2004 the right of “Haypost” for license management was given to “Converse Invest” company. In other words very soon “Haypost” will have monopolistic positions in this market and will be the main decision maker (as well as in the print media market). According to Communications and Transportation Minister Andranik Manoukyan, all companies can import, make subscription and distribution of print media, but transporting postal letters will be carried out only by the company that will get the license. The most paradoxical thing is that international organizations implement numerous programs in Armenia to develop Mass Media in Armenia, but our government adopts rules to limit the development. It is clear that small companies that distribute print media will not be able to pay five million dram to get a license, thus will leave the main role for only one company. Andranik Manoukyan says that the companies that are brought up will pay for license only once and forever. Andranik Manoukyan promised us to give detailed information in our next publication.
