US embassy cable - 05YEREVAN270

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000270 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CACEN, DRL 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, AM 
SUBJECT:  A1-PLUS LOSES BID FOR RADIO LICENSE 
 
 
Sensitive but unclassified.  Please protect 
accordingly. 
 
1. (SBU) Mesrop Movsesian, the owner of the now-defunct 
A1-Plus television station, told Post that he lost a 
recent bid for a radio frequency license to two other 
competitors, and he alleged that his loss was 
politically motivated.   On February 14, the Armenian 
National Commission on Television and Radio voted to 
give two available radio frequencies to other bidders. 
Movsesian renewed charges that the Commission withdrew 
A1-Plus's television license in 2003 out of political 
considerations.  (Note:  Commission members are 
appointed by the President.  End Note.)  He alleged 
that the Commission voted against his most recent bid 
because A1-Plus television criticized President 
Kocharian during his 2003 re-election campaign. 
 
2. (SBU) One of the Television and Radio Commissioners, 
Ara Tadevossian, told us that the two companies which 
won the tender offered "better technical quality" and 
stronger financial backing.  A1-Plus operates a print 
and on-line news service but has no previous experience 
in radio. 
 
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COMMENT 
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3. (SBU) A1-Plus has been seeking a return to the 
airwaves since it lost its television license in April 
2002.  The GOAM commissioner is correct that A1-Plus 
has less radio experience that the winner of the 
tender, but political factors likely also played some 
role in the decision. 
GODFREY