Adjara TV and Radio Board of Advisers Confirms Candidates Presented by Georgian Dream

Gela Bochikashvili, www.media.ge

The Supreme Council of Adjara AR has confirmed, in the selective contest of the Board of Advisers of GPB’s Adjara TV and Radio, the candidates presented by the Georgian Dream, Georgian Dream-Adjara and Georgian Dream- Free Democrats- Zaza Khalvashi, Giorgi Iremadze and Rusudan Imedashvili. The candidates named by the United National Movement faction(UNM) and National Movement-Majoritarians-IrakliDartsmelidze and Bezhan Gobadze haven’t got sufficient number of votes. Head of Adjara Supreme Council Davit Batsikadze hasn’t participated in the vote.

The votes between the 5 candidates of the Board of Trustees have been distributed in the following order- Zaza Khalvashi- 17 for, 2 against, one deputy abstained; GiorgiIremadze- 13 for, 4 against; Rusudan Imedashvili- 16 for, 4 against; Irakli Dartsmelidzeand Bezhan Gobadze have had the equal number of votes- 8 for and 12 against.

According to the Law on Broadcasting, the Board of Trustees of the GPB’s Adjara TV and Radio is comprised of 5 members and each appointed for six year term. The legislation reads that they are selected by the majority of the Adjara Supreme Council list membership( 21 deputies), with no less than 11 votes.

Due to the fact that two candidates of the Advisers haven’t got sufficient votes, the factions of the Supreme Council of Adjara AR and no less than one-fourth of the rest members of the Council must present new candidates within 10 calendar days for the two vacant positions of the Supreme Council.

Priorities of the candidates participating in the vote

Giorgi Iremadze believes that Adjara TV must be basically oriented towards the social, political, sports, ecologic and cultural life of the region, and broadcast in the round-the-clock mode. The television must develop social, political, religious, cultural and sports areas. According to him, specialists of the given spheres must be invited in order to ensure development of the television.

Adjara Radio takes less space in the concept of Iremadze for that matter. “ The things told in regard to the television applies as well to the Radio,”- reads the concept of Iremadze, that puts programs prepared on the religious subject in the separate category.

“The programs of that direction are supposed to enhance the interest towards faith, as well as the provision of general information. In addition, the theological direction must be created along with general and descriptive programs in order to highlight the basic faith-related issues- interpretation of the Holy Writ, patristics, the history of the Church, ideology and faith, love and fanaticism, time and eternity,”- said in the concept of Iremadze.

Zaza Khalvashi, meanwhile, emphasizes the journalistic independence, attraction of new staff and the enhancement of the role the Internet in television and radio. He says that the coverage area of Adjara Radio must be enhanced, which will increase the number of its listeners.

According to Khalvashi’s concept, it’s necessary that programs of educational and cultural specialization are enhanced and children’s and youth programs are paid attention as well.

“It would to be interesting to create mutual projects together with the creative forces of the Public Broadcaster, both in the television and radio format. This will boost the population’s interest towards our television,”-He stresses in his concept.

According to Rusudan Imedaishvili, the function of Adjara TV and Radio must be improvement of the society and extension of its awareness. Her concept suggests employment of the resource of citizen journalists in the television’s activity.

“From the conceptual point of view it must as well satisfy the interests and tastes of all groups, and aid the creation of forum for the democratic discussion- reflect all the diversity that exists in Georgia, i.e. age, sex, ethnical origin, religious affiliation, etc.”- said in her concept.

Irakli Dartsmelidze, that haven’t got sufficient number of votes, believes that the television must be put to the service of the society- provide people with the product of their interest. According to Dartsmelidze, Adjara TV and Radio must accentuate on the developments taking place in the region.In his concept he stresses on the importance of a program regarding the pecuniary condition of the former and current officials“The ordinary viewers must be informed about the pecuniary state of the deputies, government members and other officials working in Adjara,”- the concept suggests.

Bezhan Gobadze made emphasis on the coverage of the social issues, and paid relatively less attention to the activity of public servants, and to the issue of the active coverage of archive-prepared programs and various religious and ethnical groups.