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YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
SEPTEMBER 9-15, 2005
HIGHLIGHTS:
STATEMENT OF YEREVAN PRESS CLUB ON AMENDMENTS TO THE RA CONSTITUTION
SUITS VERSUS "CHORRORD ISHKHANUTIUN" AND "ARAVOT"
"ZANGAK": ABOUT THE DISABLED
PRESS NEWS
THE FIRST JUBILEE OF "TV-MOL"
STATEMENT OF YEREVAN PRESS CLUB ON AMENDMENTS TO THE RA CONSTITUTION
On September 15 Yerevan Press Club disseminated a statement with a number of
proposals on draft amendments to the Constitution of Armenia, adopted by the
RA National Assembly in the second hearing on September 1.
The statement says: "Yerevan Press Club is induced to state that the public
of Armenia has been insufficiently involved in the constitutional reform
process. Attention was not duly paid to a number of alternative proposals
made, as a result of which certain provisions of the draft continue to arise
serious concerns. In particular, we cannot be satisfied with the definitions
on freedom of expression and information. The primary subject of our concern
is the mechanisms for the broadcast regulatory body formation, as stipulated
by the draft constitutional amendments, since its independence is not
guaranteed.
As after the adoption in the second hearing the project cannot be radically
improved, we submit our proposals of editorial nature that will enable
making the existing clauses more specific and will contribute to achieving
greater clarity of definitions."
Some of the YPC proposals aim solely at the improvement of the language in
some articles. At the same time it is proposed to maximally clarify the
status and the role of the body to be established for broadcast media. Thus,
Article 83.2 ("To ensure freedom, independence and diversity of broadcast
mass media, in accordance with the law, an independent body is established.
Half of its members are elected by the National Assembly, and the other half
is appointed by the President of the Republic - for 6 years' term of
service. The National Assembly elects the members of this body by a majority
of the total number of deputies.") should, in the opinion of YPC, be
narrated as follows: "In accordance with the law, a body is established,
regulating the activities of public and private broadcast mass media,
contributing to their diversity. To ensure the greatest independence of
this body, half of its members are elected by the National Assembly and half
is appointed by the President of the Republic - for 6 years' term of
service. The National Assembly elects the members of this body by a majority
of the total number of deputies".
The essence of the change proposed is that firstly, the bodies formed by the
state are established not to ensure freedom and independence but to regulate
the activities of a sphere. It is another thing that the Constitution must
stipulate certain guarantees for the independence of the body itself.
Secondly, the regulating function of this body should be clearly defined by
the Constitution, since the Main Law stipulates its establishment. Otherwise
it remains uncertain what it should be responsible for - this is hardly the
broadcasting, audiovisual production or interference with the inner policy
of broadcasting companies. Thirdly, both private and public broadcasting
should be subject to regulation. And if, contrary to YPC's proposals, the
Constitution will stipulate the formation of only one body, it should be
regulating both, which must be clearly defined by the Main Law.
The proposals of Yerevan Press Club and other journalistic associations (see
YPC Weekly Newsletter, August 25 - September 1, 2005 and July 8-14, 2005) on
amendments to RA Constitution will be submitted to the RA National Assembly
before the draft is discussed in the third hearing.
SUITS VERSUS "CHORRORD ISHKHANUTIUN" AND "ARAVOT"
On September 8 the court of primary jurisdiction of Center and Nork-Marash
communities of Yerevan started and postponed the hearing on the suit of
Karen Khachatrian, the assistant of Electrical Energy Chair of State
Engineering (Polytechnic) University of Armenia versus "Chorrord
Ishkhanutiun" newspaper. The plaintiff demanded that the newspaper be
required to publish a refutation (as written by him) for the article "The
Odyssey of the Khachatrians of Polytechnic", published in "Chorrord
Ishkhanutiun" on June 28, 2005. The article described the "unhealthy
atmosphere, created at the University" by a professor of the same Chair
Varos Khachatrian and his son Karen, who came to defend him. It should also
be noted that "Chorrord Ishkhanutiun" enabled Karen Khachatrian to speak out
on the matter, having published on July 26 a piece, titled "Explanations of
K.Khachatrian of Polytechnic".
The consideration of the suit of Karen Khachatrian versus "Chorrord
Ishkhanutiun" newspaper was delayed since presently criminal proceedings are
instituted on the appeal of the father of a female student of the
Engineering University, and the investigation is underway. The court has no
competence to consider the civil suit, filed by Karen Khachatrian, until the
investigation is over.
A similar suit with a similar demand was filed by Karen Khachatrian versus
another newspaper, "Aravot". This time the dispute centered on article
"Sexual Harassment of a Student", published in "Aravot" on June 24. The
publication based on the complaint of several students and professors of the
Engineering University about the behavior of Varos and Karen Khachatrian,
addressed to the RA Human Rights Defender. The court hearing on the case is
scheduled on September 23.
"ZANGAK": ABOUT THE DISABLED
On September 15 "168 Zham" weekly was issued with "Zangak" supplement. The
free of charge full-color newsletter on 4 pages is published by "Unison"
NGO, protecting the rights of the disabled. The project is implemented with
the financial assistance of the US Department of State Public Affairs
Section and stipulates publication of three issues on movement-impaired
people. The print run of "Zangak" is 1,000 copies, half of which is
disseminated as a supplement to "168 Zham".
PRESS NEWS
On September 10 the first issue of a special Saturday issue of "Chorrord
Ishkhanutiun" newspaper, "Kiraknamut" ("Sunday's Eve"), was published. Thus,
from now on "Chorrord Ishkhanutiun" will come out three times a week - on
Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
On September 9 at the celebration ceremony of the first anniversary of "168
Zham" weekly, the web-site of the newspaper (www.168.am) was presented.
According to the Chief Editor of "168 Zham" Satik Seyranian, soon the web
page will feature not only the pieces of the weekly print issues of the
newspaper, but also daily news. The web site is accessible in Armenian,
English and Russian languages.
THE FIRST JUBILEE OF "TV-MOL"
On September 16 "TV-mol" ("TV-maniac") weekly celebrates its first
anniversary.
Yerevan Press Club congratulates the colleagues and wishes further success
and prosperity.
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
SEPTEMBER 9-15, 2005
HIGHLIGHTS:
STATEMENT OF YEREVAN PRESS CLUB ON AMENDMENTS TO THE RA CONSTITUTION
SUITS VERSUS "CHORRORD ISHKHANUTIUN" AND "ARAVOT"
"ZANGAK": ABOUT THE DISABLED
PRESS NEWS
THE FIRST JUBILEE OF "TV-MOL"
STATEMENT OF YEREVAN PRESS CLUB ON AMENDMENTS TO THE RA CONSTITUTION
On September 15 Yerevan Press Club disseminated a statement with a number of
proposals on draft amendments to the Constitution of Armenia, adopted by the
RA National Assembly in the second hearing on September 1.
The statement says: "Yerevan Press Club is induced to state that the public
of Armenia has been insufficiently involved in the constitutional reform
process. Attention was not duly paid to a number of alternative proposals
made, as a result of which certain provisions of the draft continue to arise
serious concerns. In particular, we cannot be satisfied with the definitions
on freedom of expression and information. The primary subject of our concern
is the mechanisms for the broadcast regulatory body formation, as stipulated
by the draft constitutional amendments, since its independence is not
guaranteed.
As after the adoption in the second hearing the project cannot be radically
improved, we submit our proposals of editorial nature that will enable
making the existing clauses more specific and will contribute to achieving
greater clarity of definitions."
Some of the YPC proposals aim solely at the improvement of the language in
some articles. At the same time it is proposed to maximally clarify the
status and the role of the body to be established for broadcast media. Thus,
Article 83.2 ("To ensure freedom, independence and diversity of broadcast
mass media, in accordance with the law, an independent body is established.
Half of its members are elected by the National Assembly, and the other half
is appointed by the President of the Republic - for 6 years' term of
service. The National Assembly elects the members of this body by a majority
of the total number of deputies.") should, in the opinion of YPC, be
narrated as follows: "In accordance with the law, a body is established,
regulating the activities of public and private broadcast mass media,
contributing to their diversity. To ensure the greatest independence of
this body, half of its members are elected by the National Assembly and half
is appointed by the President of the Republic - for 6 years' term of
service. The National Assembly elects the members of this body by a majority
of the total number of deputies".
The essence of the change proposed is that firstly, the bodies formed by the
state are established not to ensure freedom and independence but to regulate
the activities of a sphere. It is another thing that the Constitution must
stipulate certain guarantees for the independence of the body itself.
Secondly, the regulating function of this body should be clearly defined by
the Constitution, since the Main Law stipulates its establishment. Otherwise
it remains uncertain what it should be responsible for - this is hardly the
broadcasting, audiovisual production or interference with the inner policy
of broadcasting companies. Thirdly, both private and public broadcasting
should be subject to regulation. And if, contrary to YPC's proposals, the
Constitution will stipulate the formation of only one body, it should be
regulating both, which must be clearly defined by the Main Law.
The proposals of Yerevan Press Club and other journalistic associations (see
YPC Weekly Newsletter, August 25 - September 1, 2005 and July 8-14, 2005) on
amendments to RA Constitution will be submitted to the RA National Assembly
before the draft is discussed in the third hearing.
SUITS VERSUS "CHORRORD ISHKHANUTIUN" AND "ARAVOT"
On September 8 the court of primary jurisdiction of Center and Nork-Marash
communities of Yerevan started and postponed the hearing on the suit of
Karen Khachatrian, the assistant of Electrical Energy Chair of State
Engineering (Polytechnic) University of Armenia versus "Chorrord
Ishkhanutiun" newspaper. The plaintiff demanded that the newspaper be
required to publish a refutation (as written by him) for the article "The
Odyssey of the Khachatrians of Polytechnic", published in "Chorrord
Ishkhanutiun" on June 28, 2005. The article described the "unhealthy
atmosphere, created at the University" by a professor of the same Chair
Varos Khachatrian and his son Karen, who came to defend him. It should also
be noted that "Chorrord Ishkhanutiun" enabled Karen Khachatrian to speak out
on the matter, having published on July 26 a piece, titled "Explanations of
K.Khachatrian of Polytechnic".
The consideration of the suit of Karen Khachatrian versus "Chorrord
Ishkhanutiun" newspaper was delayed since presently criminal proceedings are
instituted on the appeal of the father of a female student of the
Engineering University, and the investigation is underway. The court has no
competence to consider the civil suit, filed by Karen Khachatrian, until the
investigation is over.
A similar suit with a similar demand was filed by Karen Khachatrian versus
another newspaper, "Aravot". This time the dispute centered on article
"Sexual Harassment of a Student", published in "Aravot" on June 24. The
publication based on the complaint of several students and professors of the
Engineering University about the behavior of Varos and Karen Khachatrian,
addressed to the RA Human Rights Defender. The court hearing on the case is
scheduled on September 23.
"ZANGAK": ABOUT THE DISABLED
On September 15 "168 Zham" weekly was issued with "Zangak" supplement. The
free of charge full-color newsletter on 4 pages is published by "Unison"
NGO, protecting the rights of the disabled. The project is implemented with
the financial assistance of the US Department of State Public Affairs
Section and stipulates publication of three issues on movement-impaired
people. The print run of "Zangak" is 1,000 copies, half of which is
disseminated as a supplement to "168 Zham".
PRESS NEWS
On September 10 the first issue of a special Saturday issue of "Chorrord
Ishkhanutiun" newspaper, "Kiraknamut" ("Sunday's Eve"), was published. Thus,
from now on "Chorrord Ishkhanutiun" will come out three times a week - on
Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
On September 9 at the celebration ceremony of the first anniversary of "168
Zham" weekly, the web-site of the newspaper (www.168.am) was presented.
According to the Chief Editor of "168 Zham" Satik Seyranian, soon the web
page will feature not only the pieces of the weekly print issues of the
newspaper, but also daily news. The web site is accessible in Armenian,
English and Russian languages.
THE FIRST JUBILEE OF "TV-MOL"
On September 16 "TV-mol" ("TV-maniac") weekly celebrates its first
anniversary.
Yerevan Press Club congratulates the colleagues and wishes further success
and prosperity.
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