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YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2005
HIGHLIGHTS:
FOURTEENTH "PRESS CLUB" SHOW
DRAFT LAW "ON FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM" RESTRICTS THE RIGHTS OF MEDIA
REPRESENTATIVES
US DEPARTMENT OF STATE ON THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN ARMENIA IN 2004
PRESS-SECRETARY OF THE RA PRESIDENT APPOINTED
THE THIRD DIRECTOR HEADS "KENTRON" TV COMPANY
ACCOUNTS ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE BROADCAST REGULATORY BODIES PUBLISHED
EXHIBITION OF WORLD PRESS PHOTO-2004 WINNERS
FOURTEENTH "PRESS CLUB" SHOW
On February 28 on the evening air of the Second Armenian TV Channel the
fourteenth "Press Club" show was issued. The cycle is organized by Yerevan
Press Club under a homonymous project, supported by the OSI Network Media
Program.
The heads of the leading media and journalistic associations of the country
spoke about public policy and whether it exists in Armenia. As the program
participants projected, the central issue of the current week will be the
ordinary four-day session of the National Assembly. As the "Press Club"
participants expect, the media will also pay attention to the worsening of
relations between the leaders of the parties, making up the ruling
coalition - the Prime Minister Andranik Margarian (Republican party of
Armenia) and the RA National Assembly Speaker Artur Baghdasarian ("Orinats
Yerkir" party).
DRAFT LAW "ON FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM" RESTRICTS THE RIGHTS OF MEDIA
REPRESENTATIVES
On March 1 the National Assembly of Armenia passed in the second hearing the
draft law "On Fight against Terrorism". A certain concern of the
journalistic community was caused by the provisions of the draft,
restricting the rights of the media representatives to access and
dissemination of information, related to terrorism.
In particular, according to the draft law, in the area of antiterrorist
operations the activities of media representatives is regulated by the head
of the Republican Antiterrorism Headquarters (a new body to be formed in
accordance with the draft law). Besides, it is prohibited to disseminate
information that reveal the methods and devices of antiterrorist activities,
can impede the antiterrorist activities and constitute danger for the life
and health of citizens, and are directed to the promotion or justification
of terrorism.
Thus, terrorism can turn out to be a complete taboo for the media. The most
interesting fact here is that after the adoption of the law the journalists
will not have a right to disseminate information on the members of the
Headquarters above, on the bodies, involved in the antiterrorist activities,
the staff of the special services and their antiterrorist subdivisions, as
well as, remarkably, about people who provided assistance in the
antiterrorist activities.
In other words, understand this as you wish! And the danger is more than
great to have these provisions given quite broad interpretations in a
country, where the freedom of expression is not very well off as it is.
Having such a law, the authorities can simply prohibit the journalists from
covering the activities of the power bodies, the tax and customs agencies...
What is then to be done about another loudly proclaimed campaign, the
anticorruption one, if the structures that are commonly viewed to be the
major corruption sources, become closed for the press?
US DEPARTMENT OF STATE ON THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN ARMENIA IN 2004
On February 28 the US Department of State released its annual report on
human rights practices in 2004 in different countries of the world, prepared
by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.
Referring to the situation on freedom of speech and press in Armenia, the US
Department of State noted that while the Constitution provides for freedom
of speech and of the press, "the Government partially limited freedom of
speech, and there were several incidents of violence, intimidation and
self-censorship".
The report notes that the majority of the newspapers of the country, with
the exception of "Hayastani Hanrapetutiun" and "Respublika Armenia", are
privately owned, and the state printing house and the distribution agency
functioned as commercial enterprises - "with no apparent government
intervention". "No newspaper was completely independent of patronage from
economic or political interest groups or individuals", the report noted.
Because of low newspaper circulation, most persons in the country rely on
broadcast media for information, which are mostly privately owned. The news
coverage of the private TV companies in the capital and other cities of the
country, is generally independent and of good technical quality. However, in
the opinion of the report authors, the substantive quality of news reporting
varied due to self-censorship by journalists and the stations' dependence on
patronage. As to the Public Television of Armenia, by the assessment of the
US Department of State, its news coverage continued to be significantly
influenced by senior officials within the office of the President of the
country; while its news reporting was mostly factual, it avoided editorial
commentary or criticism of the Government: "For example, it provided little
coverage of the April 12 and 13 political demonstrations in the capital."
The report also noted that "A1+", "one of the countries last independent
television stations", did not get a broadcast license in 2002 "because of
sharp critical coverage of the President Kocharian's administration". The
report also mentioned the refusal of "Kentron" TV company in October 2004 to
continue broadcasting the program of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
The statement that "major media outlets in the country were generally
pro-government" was illustrated by the report authors with the 2003
presidential election campaign, when "the majority of the media, including
Public TV of Armenia, most private television stations, and the major
state-funded newspaper, all provided heavily biased news coverage that
favored incumbent President Kocharian".
The situation of freedom of speech and press in 2004 is also defined in the
report in the context with the cases of "harassment of journalists". Among
the specific examples the incidents at the opposition rallies of April 5 and
on April 12-13. It was noted in particular that during the rally of April 5
men in civilian clothing caused material and physical damage to journalists,
and by eyewitness accounts the police stood up and did not intervene to stop
the attacks. On April 13 the police themselves exerted violence against
journalists, although, as the latter maintained, they had identified
themselves to the police as reporters covering the rally. The report also
mentions the violence against the photojournalist in Tsaghkadzor on August
24. "There also were unconfirmed reports of incidents of harassment and
intimidation of journalists outside the capital", the report of the
Department of State mentions.
Despite the absence of official censorship, in the opinion of the US
Department of State, some print journalists "continue to practice
self-censorship to avoid problems with the Government and because of
pressure from official sources".
The report also noted the adoption of amendments to the RA Criminal Code, in
particular, the certain mildening of the punishment stipulated for the libel
and insult of an official. However, it is stressed that the libel and insult
remain criminal offences.
When evaluating the freedom of speech situation, the report authors also
used the information of Yerevan Press Club.
In the section of the US Department of State's report on the freedom of
religion in Armenia it was noted also that the head of "ALM" TV company
"frequently made anti-Semitic remarks on the air".
PRESS-SECRETARY OF THE RA PRESIDENT APPOINTED
On February 26 the RA President Robert Kocharian appointed his new
press-secretary to be Victor Soghomonian. Victor Soghomonian was born in
1979. Having graduated from the Department of Russian Language and
Literature of the Yerevan State University in 2001, he continued studying at
the graduate school of the Abeghian Literature Institute of the RA National
Science Academy, has a PhD in philology. In 2000-2002 Victor Soghomonian
taught at the Armenian-Russian (Slavic) University. He started to practice
TV journalism since 1997. In 2000-2003 he was the political observer of the
"Lraber" newscast of "Prometheus" TV company. Since June 2003 till January
2004 he headed the administration of the Chairman of the RA National
Assembly.
The previous press-secretary of the RA President Ashot Kocharian was
appointed the RA Ambassador in India (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, February
18-24, 2005).
THE THIRD DIRECTOR HEADS "KENTRON" TV COMPANY
On February 28 the head of "Kentron" TV channel changed again: Petros
Ghazarian was replaced on the position of the director by Meruzhan Sargsian.
The latter, before the new position, was the director of "Lraber" newscast
of the Second Armenian TV Channel.
It should be noted that after "Kentron" changed its owner in April 2004
Meruzhan Sargsian is the third head of the company. Petros Ghazarian held
this position for about seven months, and his predecessor Aram Abrahamian -
less than three months. Aram Abrahamian explained his resignation by the
controversies he had with the TV company owners over the financial
management of the channel (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, August 26 -
September 2, 2004). As Petros Ghazarian told YPC, he resigned the position
of the director of his own accord, since he prefers to engage in creative
rather than administrative work. Petros Ghazarian will continue to host
"Urvagits" program on "Kentron" TV channel and is going to implement a new
project, "Compromise" Sunday analytical program.
ACCOUNTS ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE BROADCAST REGULATORY BODIES PUBLISHED
"TV Alik" weekly (TV and radio program review) of February 28 - March 6,
2005 published the accounts of the Council of the Public TV and Radio
Company and the National Commission on Television and Radio on the
activities of these broadcast regulatory bodies in 2004. The accounts were
publicized in accordance with the RA Law "On Television and Radio".
EXHIBITION OF WORLD PRESS PHOTO-2004 WINNERS
On March 3 at "Moskva" Cinema the reception on the opening of World Press
Photo 2004 Exhibition in Yerevan will be held. In this annual international
competition 4,176 photojournalists of 124 countries of the world took part,
presenting their works for 2003. The results of the competition were
finalized in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on February 1-12, 2004. The winners of
the competition were 62 journalists of 23 countries. The Grand Prix was
awarded to the photograph by a French photo journalist Jean-Marc Bouju
("Associated Press" news agency), made at one of the prisoner camps in Iraq.
The exhibition has already been held in over 80 cities of the world. The
Yerevan exposition of the winning photographs of the World Press Photo is
organized by the Caucasian Media Institute and will be open from March 4 to
27.
When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.
You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]
Subscription for the Newsletter is free. To subscribe or unsubscribe from
this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]
Editor of YPC Newsletter - Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
____________________________________________
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
375007, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 1) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 1) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: www.ypc.am
FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2005
HIGHLIGHTS:
FOURTEENTH "PRESS CLUB" SHOW
DRAFT LAW "ON FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM" RESTRICTS THE RIGHTS OF MEDIA
REPRESENTATIVES
US DEPARTMENT OF STATE ON THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN ARMENIA IN 2004
PRESS-SECRETARY OF THE RA PRESIDENT APPOINTED
THE THIRD DIRECTOR HEADS "KENTRON" TV COMPANY
ACCOUNTS ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE BROADCAST REGULATORY BODIES PUBLISHED
EXHIBITION OF WORLD PRESS PHOTO-2004 WINNERS
FOURTEENTH "PRESS CLUB" SHOW
On February 28 on the evening air of the Second Armenian TV Channel the
fourteenth "Press Club" show was issued. The cycle is organized by Yerevan
Press Club under a homonymous project, supported by the OSI Network Media
Program.
The heads of the leading media and journalistic associations of the country
spoke about public policy and whether it exists in Armenia. As the program
participants projected, the central issue of the current week will be the
ordinary four-day session of the National Assembly. As the "Press Club"
participants expect, the media will also pay attention to the worsening of
relations between the leaders of the parties, making up the ruling
coalition - the Prime Minister Andranik Margarian (Republican party of
Armenia) and the RA National Assembly Speaker Artur Baghdasarian ("Orinats
Yerkir" party).
DRAFT LAW "ON FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM" RESTRICTS THE RIGHTS OF MEDIA
REPRESENTATIVES
On March 1 the National Assembly of Armenia passed in the second hearing the
draft law "On Fight against Terrorism". A certain concern of the
journalistic community was caused by the provisions of the draft,
restricting the rights of the media representatives to access and
dissemination of information, related to terrorism.
In particular, according to the draft law, in the area of antiterrorist
operations the activities of media representatives is regulated by the head
of the Republican Antiterrorism Headquarters (a new body to be formed in
accordance with the draft law). Besides, it is prohibited to disseminate
information that reveal the methods and devices of antiterrorist activities,
can impede the antiterrorist activities and constitute danger for the life
and health of citizens, and are directed to the promotion or justification
of terrorism.
Thus, terrorism can turn out to be a complete taboo for the media. The most
interesting fact here is that after the adoption of the law the journalists
will not have a right to disseminate information on the members of the
Headquarters above, on the bodies, involved in the antiterrorist activities,
the staff of the special services and their antiterrorist subdivisions, as
well as, remarkably, about people who provided assistance in the
antiterrorist activities.
In other words, understand this as you wish! And the danger is more than
great to have these provisions given quite broad interpretations in a
country, where the freedom of expression is not very well off as it is.
Having such a law, the authorities can simply prohibit the journalists from
covering the activities of the power bodies, the tax and customs agencies...
What is then to be done about another loudly proclaimed campaign, the
anticorruption one, if the structures that are commonly viewed to be the
major corruption sources, become closed for the press?
US DEPARTMENT OF STATE ON THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN ARMENIA IN 2004
On February 28 the US Department of State released its annual report on
human rights practices in 2004 in different countries of the world, prepared
by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.
Referring to the situation on freedom of speech and press in Armenia, the US
Department of State noted that while the Constitution provides for freedom
of speech and of the press, "the Government partially limited freedom of
speech, and there were several incidents of violence, intimidation and
self-censorship".
The report notes that the majority of the newspapers of the country, with
the exception of "Hayastani Hanrapetutiun" and "Respublika Armenia", are
privately owned, and the state printing house and the distribution agency
functioned as commercial enterprises - "with no apparent government
intervention". "No newspaper was completely independent of patronage from
economic or political interest groups or individuals", the report noted.
Because of low newspaper circulation, most persons in the country rely on
broadcast media for information, which are mostly privately owned. The news
coverage of the private TV companies in the capital and other cities of the
country, is generally independent and of good technical quality. However, in
the opinion of the report authors, the substantive quality of news reporting
varied due to self-censorship by journalists and the stations' dependence on
patronage. As to the Public Television of Armenia, by the assessment of the
US Department of State, its news coverage continued to be significantly
influenced by senior officials within the office of the President of the
country; while its news reporting was mostly factual, it avoided editorial
commentary or criticism of the Government: "For example, it provided little
coverage of the April 12 and 13 political demonstrations in the capital."
The report also noted that "A1+", "one of the countries last independent
television stations", did not get a broadcast license in 2002 "because of
sharp critical coverage of the President Kocharian's administration". The
report also mentioned the refusal of "Kentron" TV company in October 2004 to
continue broadcasting the program of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
The statement that "major media outlets in the country were generally
pro-government" was illustrated by the report authors with the 2003
presidential election campaign, when "the majority of the media, including
Public TV of Armenia, most private television stations, and the major
state-funded newspaper, all provided heavily biased news coverage that
favored incumbent President Kocharian".
The situation of freedom of speech and press in 2004 is also defined in the
report in the context with the cases of "harassment of journalists". Among
the specific examples the incidents at the opposition rallies of April 5 and
on April 12-13. It was noted in particular that during the rally of April 5
men in civilian clothing caused material and physical damage to journalists,
and by eyewitness accounts the police stood up and did not intervene to stop
the attacks. On April 13 the police themselves exerted violence against
journalists, although, as the latter maintained, they had identified
themselves to the police as reporters covering the rally. The report also
mentions the violence against the photojournalist in Tsaghkadzor on August
24. "There also were unconfirmed reports of incidents of harassment and
intimidation of journalists outside the capital", the report of the
Department of State mentions.
Despite the absence of official censorship, in the opinion of the US
Department of State, some print journalists "continue to practice
self-censorship to avoid problems with the Government and because of
pressure from official sources".
The report also noted the adoption of amendments to the RA Criminal Code, in
particular, the certain mildening of the punishment stipulated for the libel
and insult of an official. However, it is stressed that the libel and insult
remain criminal offences.
When evaluating the freedom of speech situation, the report authors also
used the information of Yerevan Press Club.
In the section of the US Department of State's report on the freedom of
religion in Armenia it was noted also that the head of "ALM" TV company
"frequently made anti-Semitic remarks on the air".
PRESS-SECRETARY OF THE RA PRESIDENT APPOINTED
On February 26 the RA President Robert Kocharian appointed his new
press-secretary to be Victor Soghomonian. Victor Soghomonian was born in
1979. Having graduated from the Department of Russian Language and
Literature of the Yerevan State University in 2001, he continued studying at
the graduate school of the Abeghian Literature Institute of the RA National
Science Academy, has a PhD in philology. In 2000-2002 Victor Soghomonian
taught at the Armenian-Russian (Slavic) University. He started to practice
TV journalism since 1997. In 2000-2003 he was the political observer of the
"Lraber" newscast of "Prometheus" TV company. Since June 2003 till January
2004 he headed the administration of the Chairman of the RA National
Assembly.
The previous press-secretary of the RA President Ashot Kocharian was
appointed the RA Ambassador in India (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, February
18-24, 2005).
THE THIRD DIRECTOR HEADS "KENTRON" TV COMPANY
On February 28 the head of "Kentron" TV channel changed again: Petros
Ghazarian was replaced on the position of the director by Meruzhan Sargsian.
The latter, before the new position, was the director of "Lraber" newscast
of the Second Armenian TV Channel.
It should be noted that after "Kentron" changed its owner in April 2004
Meruzhan Sargsian is the third head of the company. Petros Ghazarian held
this position for about seven months, and his predecessor Aram Abrahamian -
less than three months. Aram Abrahamian explained his resignation by the
controversies he had with the TV company owners over the financial
management of the channel (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, August 26 -
September 2, 2004). As Petros Ghazarian told YPC, he resigned the position
of the director of his own accord, since he prefers to engage in creative
rather than administrative work. Petros Ghazarian will continue to host
"Urvagits" program on "Kentron" TV channel and is going to implement a new
project, "Compromise" Sunday analytical program.
ACCOUNTS ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE BROADCAST REGULATORY BODIES PUBLISHED
"TV Alik" weekly (TV and radio program review) of February 28 - March 6,
2005 published the accounts of the Council of the Public TV and Radio
Company and the National Commission on Television and Radio on the
activities of these broadcast regulatory bodies in 2004. The accounts were
publicized in accordance with the RA Law "On Television and Radio".
EXHIBITION OF WORLD PRESS PHOTO-2004 WINNERS
On March 3 at "Moskva" Cinema the reception on the opening of World Press
Photo 2004 Exhibition in Yerevan will be held. In this annual international
competition 4,176 photojournalists of 124 countries of the world took part,
presenting their works for 2003. The results of the competition were
finalized in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on February 1-12, 2004. The winners of
the competition were 62 journalists of 23 countries. The Grand Prix was
awarded to the photograph by a French photo journalist Jean-Marc Bouju
("Associated Press" news agency), made at one of the prisoner camps in Iraq.
The exhibition has already been held in over 80 cities of the world. The
Yerevan exposition of the winning photographs of the World Press Photo is
organized by the Caucasian Media Institute and will be open from March 4 to
27.
When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.
You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]
Subscription for the Newsletter is free. To subscribe or unsubscribe from
this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]
Editor of YPC Newsletter - Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
____________________________________________
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
375007, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 1) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 1) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: www.ypc.am