YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
JUNE 17-23, 2005
HIGHLIGHTS:
RIGHTS AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE MEDIA
THIRTIETH “PRESS CLUB” SHOW
“POVERTY IN ARMENIA” PHOTO EXHIBITION
BOOK AND FILM ON TRAFFICKING
RIGHTS AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE MEDIA
On June 20-22 in Sevan seminar “Rights and Accountability of Media” was
held. The seminar was organized by Yerevan Press Club with the assistance of
the Council of Europe. In the event heads and representatives of media,
journalistic associations of Armenia, foreign experts took part. Opening
remarks were made by YPC President Boris Navasardian, Administrator of the
Council of Europe Media Division Charlotte de Broutelles, Head of Council of
Europe Department of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ara Margarian.
The seminar participants discussed a broad spectrum of issues, related to
freedom of expression, media responsibility and self-regulation. Professor
of French Press Institute (Paris University-2) Claude-Jean Bertrand spoke
about the media accountability systems. Chief Editor of “Azg” daily Hagop
Avedikian presented the situation of self-regulation in the journalistic
community of Armenia. YPC President Boris Navasardian focused on the
coverage of internal and external conflicts by Armenian media, and the
Lawyer of the European Court of Human Rights Mario Oetheimer addressed the
freedom of expression and journalists’ responsibility issues at times of
crises in the context of European standards. The seminar was concluded by a
panel discussion in which the Chief Editor of “Aravot” daily Aram
Abrahamian, YPC Expert Mesrop Harutiunian, CE Experts Claude-Jean Bertrand
and Mario Oetheimer took part. The discussion of how to keep the balance
between the freedom of expression and the right to privacy was based on the
example of two court cases “Von Hannover v. Germany” and “Tammer v.
Estonia”, heard by the European Court of Human Rights.
THIRTIETH “PRESS CLUB” SHOW
On June 20 on evening air of the Second Armenian TV Channel thirtieth “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 subject for discussion of the representatives of the leading media and
journalistic associations of Armenia were the amendments to the Constitution
of the country in the context of proposals made by the experts of the
Council of Europe Venice Commission. By the forecast of “Press Club”
participants, this week Armenian media will pay most attention to the
parliamentary elections in Mountainous Karabagh on June 19; the summer
session of CoE Parliamentary Assembly in Strasbourg; the return of the
Chairman of Political Council of opposition “Hanrapetutiun” party Aram
Sargsian from a working visit to the USA.
“POVERTY IN ARMENIA” PHOTO EXHIBITION
On June 22 at the “Moscow” cinema in Yerevan photo exhibition “Poverty in
Armenia” was opened. The exhibition was organized by the Caucasus Media
Institute under the homonymous program implemented with the financial
assistance of Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation Armenia and the
World Bank. The exhibition presented the works by the head of “Patker” photo
agency Ruben Mangasarian and the free-lance photo journalist German Avagian.
The exposition in Yerevan will be on till June 30, after which it is to be
demonstrated in Kapan and Ijevan cities. It previously was held at the
Caucasus Media Institute and in Gyumri city.
BOOK AND FILM ON TRAFFICKING
On June 22 the presentation of a book “On Nights in Desert” and a
documentary of the same name on trafficking of Armenian women to the United
Arab Emirates was held. The collection of articles and the documentary on
trafficking were the product of a journalistic investigation, conducted
during a year by the Chairman of “Investigative Journalists” NGO Edik
Baghdasarian and journalist Ara Manukian. According to the authors,
assistance to the investigation was provided, in particular, by an American
businessman residing in UAE, who preferred to remain unknown. The
documentary “On Nights in Desert” is expected to be shown on the air of
“Yerkir-Media” TV channel.
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Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
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