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LEGISLATIVE ISSUES CONCERNING MASS MEDIA DISCUSSED
National Assembly of RA
May 16 2008
Armenia
On May 15 the representative of the delegation of the Secretariat
on Media Division of the Council of Europe Ms Franziska Klopfer,
and experts Ms Natalia Petrova and Elisabeth Robson were in the
National Assembly.
At the meeting with Mrs Hranush Hakobyan, Chairperson of the NA
Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport
and Ms Naira Zohrabyan, Deputy Chairperson Mrs Franziska Klopfer,
Programme Adviser of the Directorate General of Human Rights and
Legal Affairs of the Council of Europe said that the delegation
was involved in the issues of mass media, freedom of speech. They
would like to know how to be useful, as they have a programme with
the European Commission for 2008-2009, and in that framework events
concerning the issues of freedom of speech will be organized.
The Committee Chairperson Ms Hranush Hakobyan touched upon the
functioning legislation on the activity of the mass media means,
noting that three laws had been adopted, from which the law on Mass
Media was highly assessed by the specialists, and up to now a proposal
for amending was not received, what could not be said about the law
On Television and Radio, which was adopted earlier and needed to be
amended. According to the Committee Chairperson, there are articles
in the law, which give a reason for misunderstanding.
The sides touched upon issues of providing financing, formation of
the council and independence of the Public TV Company.
Mrs Hakobyan highlighted in the information field the journalists'
education, their training, classification of the journalists' ethics,
etc. According to him, in these issues too the relevant structures
of the Council of Europe can be useful with their experience and
programmes. It was considered necessary to make aware the society of
legal knowledge, to create favourable conditions for the activity of
the regional mass media, etc.
The Deputy Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal
Affairs Mr Artyush Shahbazyan, members Mr Hovhannes Margaryan and
Artak Davtyan also met with the representative of the delegation
of the Secretariat on Media Division of the Council of Europe Ms
Franziska Klopfer, and experts Ms Natalia Petrova and Elisabeth Robson.
Informing the MPs about the aim of the visit Ms Franziska Klopfer noted
that events took place in the framework of the 2008-2009 programme on
the freedom of mass media in Armenia. Ms Natalia Petrova highlighted
the role of the media in the formation of the democratic state.
The guests were interested in the amendments to the law on Television
and Radio, the elimination of Article 318 of the Criminal Code,
decriminalization of defamation, etc.
The Deputy Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal
Affairs Mr Artyush Shahbazyan said that, taking into account the CE
assignments, a committee was set up to improve that legal system. Mr
Shabazyan highlighted the creation of the culture of honouring the
democracy and freedom of speech, which was not possible to regulate by
law. According to the Deputy Chairman, there is a problem to improve
the society, and the journalists should understand that they are free
in their professional activity but they should not offend and slander
the citizen. Mr Hovhannes Margaryan noted that the parliament made
an amendment in the Criminal Code and repealed the Article 318.
In Mr Margaryan's words, legislative initiative envisaging an amendment
to the article regarding the defamation is in circulation. He said
that in the region Armenia is the only country, where none of the
journalists was brought to responsibility for defamation or offense. Mr
Artak Davtyan noted that in Armenia the compliance of the laws with
EU standards was highlighted, as the membership of Armenia to the
European Union was expected.
During the meeting the sides also touched upon other issues of mutual
interest.
National Assembly of RA
May 16 2008
Armenia
On May 15 the representative of the delegation of the Secretariat
on Media Division of the Council of Europe Ms Franziska Klopfer,
and experts Ms Natalia Petrova and Elisabeth Robson were in the
National Assembly.
At the meeting with Mrs Hranush Hakobyan, Chairperson of the NA
Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport
and Ms Naira Zohrabyan, Deputy Chairperson Mrs Franziska Klopfer,
Programme Adviser of the Directorate General of Human Rights and
Legal Affairs of the Council of Europe said that the delegation
was involved in the issues of mass media, freedom of speech. They
would like to know how to be useful, as they have a programme with
the European Commission for 2008-2009, and in that framework events
concerning the issues of freedom of speech will be organized.
The Committee Chairperson Ms Hranush Hakobyan touched upon the
functioning legislation on the activity of the mass media means,
noting that three laws had been adopted, from which the law on Mass
Media was highly assessed by the specialists, and up to now a proposal
for amending was not received, what could not be said about the law
On Television and Radio, which was adopted earlier and needed to be
amended. According to the Committee Chairperson, there are articles
in the law, which give a reason for misunderstanding.
The sides touched upon issues of providing financing, formation of
the council and independence of the Public TV Company.
Mrs Hakobyan highlighted in the information field the journalists'
education, their training, classification of the journalists' ethics,
etc. According to him, in these issues too the relevant structures
of the Council of Europe can be useful with their experience and
programmes. It was considered necessary to make aware the society of
legal knowledge, to create favourable conditions for the activity of
the regional mass media, etc.
The Deputy Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal
Affairs Mr Artyush Shahbazyan, members Mr Hovhannes Margaryan and
Artak Davtyan also met with the representative of the delegation
of the Secretariat on Media Division of the Council of Europe Ms
Franziska Klopfer, and experts Ms Natalia Petrova and Elisabeth Robson.
Informing the MPs about the aim of the visit Ms Franziska Klopfer noted
that events took place in the framework of the 2008-2009 programme on
the freedom of mass media in Armenia. Ms Natalia Petrova highlighted
the role of the media in the formation of the democratic state.
The guests were interested in the amendments to the law on Television
and Radio, the elimination of Article 318 of the Criminal Code,
decriminalization of defamation, etc.
The Deputy Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal
Affairs Mr Artyush Shahbazyan said that, taking into account the CE
assignments, a committee was set up to improve that legal system. Mr
Shabazyan highlighted the creation of the culture of honouring the
democracy and freedom of speech, which was not possible to regulate by
law. According to the Deputy Chairman, there is a problem to improve
the society, and the journalists should understand that they are free
in their professional activity but they should not offend and slander
the citizen. Mr Hovhannes Margaryan noted that the parliament made
an amendment in the Criminal Code and repealed the Article 318.
In Mr Margaryan's words, legislative initiative envisaging an amendment
to the article regarding the defamation is in circulation. He said
that in the region Armenia is the only country, where none of the
journalists was brought to responsibility for defamation or offense. Mr
Artak Davtyan noted that in Armenia the compliance of the laws with
EU standards was highlighted, as the membership of Armenia to the
European Union was expected.
During the meeting the sides also touched upon other issues of mutual
interest.