Privileges on Press Are Abolished

Georgia based media sources used to have some kind privileges up to now. However, after 2007 their privileges will be abolished. As a result, many of them might cease their functioning in future.

Media-organizations complain about the fact and urge the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Nino Burjanadze, for help.

Burjanadze promised them that printed media will have some privileges. Additional consultations in the parliament will estimate the future advantages for them. She also mentioned that the press should have some encouraging regime, and demanded representative of media to produce arguments proving the necessity for being granted with privileges.

Unlike Burjanadze, one of the leaders of the parliamentary majority, Maia Nadiradze, deos not want the media to have privileges any longer. She thinks that publication is business and entrepreneurs should not be treated like beneficiaries of greenhouse. "Just the opposite, we should create competitive environment for mass media, in which the strongest will survive," this is Nadiradze's position.

On December 26, meeting between Burjanadze and mass media regarding the problem, ended in failure.

The meeting, presented by some more members of National Movement-Democrats, was held in the evening under Burjanadze's initiative. The question on privileges was raised by the Rights in parliament.

After the meeting, Lasha Tughushi, editor of the newspaper Resonance, said “Unfortunately, the meeting ended in failure and many questions are still obscure."

Malkhaz Gulashvili, head of the Media holding "Georgian Times" declared that media could not receive any answers on any problematic questions. They only heard that the MPs will “think” on this issue in future.

Bokeria, Deputy Chairman of the Legal Committee in the Parliament, said that representatives of media could not give any valid arguments why they should have privileges and should not pay income taxes.

According to Bokeria, the press is really in crisis, but it is caused by lack of qualification and professionalism.

If press does not have privileges, the publishers will have to raise price on newspapers or to close their print-shops.

Association of Regional Media has also petitioned the Speaker of the Parliament regarding the privileges. "On January 1, 2007 privileges for media expires. In 2004, Georgian Government, through granting economical freedom to independent media, wanted to join those countries for which the freedom of speech and development of the independent media was priority. However, three years were not enough to turn the printed media into a profitable business. Today, it is still urgent to create particular economical conditions for press as principal instrument for the country's democratic development.

To charge regional press in advantageous regime has principal importance. It is high time to encourage local media and the state should take active part in it. Many courtiers have various forms of assisting the media; however, we are aware that similar prospect can be realized only in future in Georgia.

Association of the Georgian Regional Media, which includes more than sixty regional publications, thinks that estimating some privileges for media will be a great support not only for single issues and development of independent media, but it will also show the government's attitude to the aforementioned processes and irreversible processes of democratic development," the appeal stated.

Under Administrative Code, publishing organizations were free of some taxes from January 1 2005 until January 1 2007. Those taxes were the following: 18% of the Value Added Tax, 20 % of the Income Tax, 1% of the Property. The publishers paid only 20 % of social tax and 12 % of Income Tax.

The publishers hope that the parliament will agree on creating privileges for them. Although, opposition supports the demand, their votes are not enough pass the question.

Eka Gulua, Tbilisi