The “New Times” political party released an announcement on Monday expressing its disappointment in the “Yerkir Media” television station for violating the terms of their agreement and not broadcasting the interview with leader of “New Times” Aram Karapetyan and president of the “European Integration” interest group Karen Bekaryan as they discussed Armenian foreign policy issues.
“We are inclined to think that the prohibition of television airtime by the Armenian authorities is still going on and all television stations are under pressure,” as stated in the message.
“Let us recall that one of the interviews with Aram Karapetyan broadcasted on “ArmenAkob” television station in May 2006 also did not go on air (head of the National Security Service of Armenia Gorik Hakobyan had come to the television station 15 minutes before airtime). These facts go to show once again the real image of the existing Armenian authorities that cynically show a lack of tolerance towards any type of manifestation of dissidence or radical oppositional behavior”.
In the end of the announcement, for some reason, “New Times” expresses the hope that the “international community correctly perceives its future political steps in the struggle aimed against the Armenian authorities”. So, A. Karapetyan’s announcement is not addressed to the public of Armenia, rather the international community. We hope that the international community not only perceives correctly, but also appreciates the announcement made by “New Times” and provides broadcast on international television stations.