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Head of "Aravot" TV resigned


By Hrach Melkumian
Aram Abramian, who is also the editor of the opposition newspaper "Aravot," has resigned from the post of the director of private TV Company "Aravot." According to Abramian, the owner of the company didn't take his work seriously and his resignation is not politically motivated. He said that there was no political pressure on, or any censorship of the channel.

Abramian said he had certain agreements with company's owner, parliament deputy and businessman Murad Guloyan, about investments for the channel and Guloyan didn't keep his promise. Abramian said the newspaper "Aravot" doesn't want the logo of the company in "Aravot" TV any more after his resignation. "I will do everything possible to make them change the logo. I hope the next director or the owner will have enough decency not to use my logo," Abramian told RFE/RL.

"Aravot" TV started broadcasting in April 2004 after Guloyan purchased the Kentron TV Company from another parliament deputy, Gurgen Arsenyan. The TV frequency previously belonged to the opposition "A1+" channel, and some opposition journalists construed Abramian's acceptance of the post of channel director as a betrayal. "A1+" director Mesrop Movsissian commented that it was not wise of Aram Abramian to accept the proposal. "They [the authorities] were trying to [find a] substitute [for] freedom of speech. They will not manage to do this. Either freedom of speech exists or it doesn't. One cannot replace it by anything. Aram Abramian was only a playing card and it has lost its power," Movsissian told RFE/RL.

Some oppositionists suggested the invitation to Abramian, who is a prominent opposition journalist, to head the Aravot TV channel was an attempt to compromise him. But Abramian argued that during its six weeks of existence "Aravot" television never overtly favored President Robert Kocharian and the Armenian leadership. "Those who watched the programs know that "Aravot" TV as well as the "Aravot " newspaper was balanced enough, otherwise I would be compromised," Abramian said.
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