ASSOCIATED PRESS PLANS TO ENLARGE ITS PRESENCE IN ARMENIA WITH
ARMINFO’S ASSISTANCE

YEREVAN, APRIL 1. ARMINFO. Associated Press is going to enlarge its
cooperation with ARMINFO independent news agency.

Director of AP Eurasian Department Thomas Jefferson visited Armenia a
few days ago to negotiate and to consider relevant cooperation
mechanisms. Priority is given to Associated Press’s buying 50% of
ARMINFO’s shares and introducting corporative administration for new
regional agency AP-AM (Associated Press – ARMINFO).

Jefferson says that AP is seeking to counterbalance Russian media
activity in the region. “Armenia is in fact the only CIS country where
there is no immediate clash of extra-regional interests. It is here
that the media factor – with certain revision – can be spread over not
only South Caucasus but also part of Great Middle East,” says
Jefferson.

To remind, Interfax news agency (Russia) has been enlarging its
positions in Armenia since 2002; Regnum South Caucasian chief editor
office was established in 2003; RIA Novosti (Russia) is presently
negotiating to form a sub-division in Armenia.

One of Armenia’s news leaders and legal successor of SNARK news agency
ARMINFO was established Mar 31 1991.