Draft Law on Broadcasting discussed at Field Economy Committee Session

Chairman of the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) Board of Trustees Levan Gakheladze believes that granting Parliament the authority to collectively dismiss the Board is a medieval norm and it is unacceptable to him.

Gakheladze announced this at todays, 10 May mutual session of the Field Economy and Self Government Committees of Parliament, which discussed the revised version of the draft law on amendments to the Law on Broadcasting.  The field session of the Committees was held in Tbilisi at the Ministry of Economy.

One of the authors of the draft law, Rezonansi newspaper Chief Edidor Lasha Tugushi clarified that dismissal of the Board is an adequate decision in case if it does not fulfill its obligations.
Gakheladze also believes that GPB budget must be not 0.14% of the GDP of Georgia, but 0.2% as the GPB operates three televisions and two radio stations which needs more funding than allocated; still they did not discuss the change of the given figure during the Committee discussion.
Member of the Parliamentary majority from Republican Party David Berdzenishvili said that the law must come into force as soon as it is approved.

One of the authors of the draft law, member of majority Eliso Chapidze stressed that it is not advisable for laws to be changed with the change of government so the given law will come into force as amended after Presidential elections.

Next hearing of the draft law will be held at Parliamentary session and if it will be approved it will come into force 1 January 2014.

Tamar Paradashvili, www.media.ge