ARMENIAN TV CHANNELS BROADCAST LIVE LATE PREMIER’S FUNERAL
BBC Monitoring research in English
28 Mar 07
Armenian Public TV started a live broadcast from the funeral ceremony
of deceased Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan at 0657 gmt.
A presenter said over classical music that 28 March had been declared
the day of mourning in Armenia and read out the schedule of the
funeral. The burial will take place at 1500 local time (1000 gmt)
at the Komitas Pantheon where prominent Armenians are buried, the
presenter said.
A short video showed Margaryan’s coffin being taken from his home
and carried to the catafalque. It was followed by a live broadcast
from Yerevan’s Opera and Ballet Theatre where Margaryan’s body lies
in state. The presenter read excerpts from condolences offered by
world leaders.
Video showed people filing past the coffin; people crowded outside
the building; Cabinet members, other high-ranking officials standing
near the coffin.
The presenter said that delegations from over 10 countries, including
Canada, the USA, Lithuania, Georgia and Turkey, have arrived in
Armenia to attend the funeral. Turkey is represented by that country’s
ambassador to Georgia, the presenter said.
All other major Armenian TV channels are currently broadcasting live
from the Opera and Ballet Theatre.
Margaryan’s funeral was the first item on 0730 gmt news bulletin on
private Yerkir Media TV. Video showed the late prime minister’s coffin
being taken to the headquarters of the Republican Party of Armenia
of which Margaryan was the chairman. The presenter then read out the
schedule of the funeral and said that delegations from many countries
have arrived to attend the funeral. At 0734 gmt Yerkir Media TV started
a live broadcast from the Opera and Ballet Theatre without comments.
Andranik Margaryan died of heart attack on 25 March in Yerevan.