YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
MARCH 17-23, 2006
HIGHLIGHTS:
YEREVAN PRESS CLUB: ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2005
MEDIA DIALOGUE: ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2005
“PRESS CLUB+”: ANM ABOUT KARABAGH SETTLEMENT AND ELECTIONS
ATTEMPTS FOR EVICTING “A1+” CONTINUE
NEW LEGAL INITIATIVES
PUBLIC TV SUGGESTS RECONSIDERING RELATIONS WITH THE PARLIAMENT
“PRESS PHOTO” AWARD FOR ARMENIAN PHOTOJOURNALIST
YEREVAN PRESS CLUB: ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2005
In compliance with Article 12, “Transparency of Financial Sources”, of RA
Law “On Mass Communication”, we present the 2005 financial report of Yerevan
Press Club Weekly Newsletter and the website
In 2005, a total of 7,254,912 AMD was spent for the publication of YPC
Weekly Newsletter and the support of the website in the
English and Russian languages.
The whole sum was covered by a grant provided by Open Society Institute
Assistance Foundation-Armenia.
MEDIA DIALOGUE: ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2005
In compliance with Article 12, “Transparency of Financial Sources”, of RA
Law “On Mass Communication”, we present the 2005 financial report of “Media
Dialogue” Weekly Newsletter and the website
In 2005, a total of 9,834,736.23 AMD was spent for the publication of “Media
Dialogue” Weekly Newsletter and the support of the website
in the Armenian, English and Russian languages.
The whole sum was covered by the grant provided by Open Society Institute
Network Media Program.
“PRESS CLUB+”: ANM ABOUT KARABAGH SETTLEMENT AND ELECTIONS
On March 21 third “Press Club+” talk show went on “Yerkir Media” TV evening
air.
The guests of Aram Abrahamian, program host, Chief Editor of “Aravot” daily,
were leaders of Armenian National Movement. As experts, representatives of
media and NGOs were invited. The TV discussion was on the prospects of
settling the Mountainous Karabagh issue, and electoral processes in Armenia.
It is planned that next Tuesday, March 28, 21.00, “Yerkir Media” will air
second issue of “Press Club” cycle (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, February
17-23, 2006), with representatives of media and journalistic associations of
Armenia expressing their opinion on hot issues coverage.
ATTEMPTS FOR EVICTING “A1+” CONTINUE
On March 16 by the end of the working day, the editorial office of “A1+” TV
company was visited by the representatives of RA Compulsory Execution
Service. In compliance with the court ruling, they demanded to vacate the
premises used by “A1+” at one of the buildings of the capital until 12.00
next day (March 17). As it has been reported, “A1+” has rented these rooms
from RA National Academy of Sciences since 1992. However, in 2004 the latter
raised the issue of evicting “A1+” and in 2005 filed a suit to RA Economic
Court. On April 11, 2005 the suit was secured, and founder of “A1+”,
“Meltex” LLC, challenged this ruling at RA Court of Cassation, which left it
unchanged on May 26, 2005. According to Director of “A1+” Mesrop Movsesian,
the refusal to vacate the premises was conditioned by National Academy’s
violation of existing financial agreements. On July 20, 2005 National
Academy again demanded to vacate the premises within a week. On the same
day, Director of the TV company sent a letter to RA Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian to contribute to the prolongation of the rental agreement with the
Academy. The request said in particular that left without the office, “A1+”
will have to suspend the work of “Ayb-Feh” weekly, “A1+” website, higher
courses of TV journalism and “Hamaspyur” network, uniting 11 regional TV
companies. In response to the letter, the Prime Minister addressed the
Department of the State Property Management of the RA Government to consider
the possibility of giving the TV company new premises (see YPC Weekly
Newsletter, August 25 – September 1, 2005).
The imminent threat of “A1+” appearing in the street since March 17 raised
the protest of several media, journalistic and human rights organizations.
The latter expressed willingness to support the TV company. As Mesrop
Movsesian told YPC, the intervention of the Prime Minister prevented
eviction of “A1+”. In subsequent days, RA Department of the State Property
Management offered a new location to the TV company, which is in need of
capital repairing, as Mesrop Movsesian stated. Therefore, the issue of
moving the TV company to the new building is still open.
Meanwhile, “Azg” daily (March 23, 2006) informs that answering the questions
of the journalists on March 22 at RA National Assembly, the Prime Minister
noted that the government kept its promise and offered premises to “A1+”. It
is now up to “A1+” to decide, Andranik Margarian stressed.
NEW LEGAL INITIATIVES
At the four-day session of RA National Assembly, held on March 20-23, the
draft law on introducing amendments to RA Law “On Advertising” was
presented. The initiator of the amendments is RA Health Ministry. The
amendments refer to advertising in media and outside advertising of
medication, medical equipment and treatment methods.
In particular, it is proposed that the advertising of medication in
broadcast and print media be accompanied by obligatory mentioning of the
number and date of issuing of the certificate of state registration in the
Republic of Armenia, as well as the number and date of the authorization
issued by the Health Ministry. The amendments foresee a ban on advertising
of medication controlled, issued by prescription and not registered in
Armenia. Besides, it is proposed to prohibit outside advertising of the
medication.
In compliance with the draft law, the number and date of issuing
authorization from the Ministry of Health should be specified during
advertising in media and on the street stands of medical equipment and
treatment methods. Advertisement of the organizations or individual
entrepreneurs, providing medical services, carrying out production and sale
of medication, implementing educational projects, should include the number
and date of issuing the license for relevant activity.
At the same time, it is not really clear why the draft law, alongside the
restrictions mentioned above and quite reasonable, also proposes introducing
the procedure of granting authorization for advertising of medication,
medical equipment and treatment methods, which is to be stipulated by RA
Government.
The authors of the draft law condition the mentioned amendments in Law “On
Advertising” by the necessity of protecting the consumers’ rights and
ensuring proper quality of medical service. However, as it is typical for
the majority of legislative initiatives in media field, here as well
excessive bureaucratic limitations are foreseen.
The new draft law “On Copyright and Related Rights” was also introduced at
the Parliament four-day session.
On March 22, amendments to the Law “On Advertising” and the draft law “On
Copyright and Related Rights” were adopted in the first reading.
PUBLIC TV SUGGESTS RECONSIDERING RELATIONS WITH THE PARLIAMENT
Recently, media and deputies of RA National Assembly often raised the issue
of Public Television of Armenia coverage of the parliamentary programs.
According to the Rules of Procedure of RA National Assembly, adopted on
February 20, 2002, the sessions devoted to the statements of the deputies,
and the questions-answers addressed to the government are recorded and aired
by Public Television of Armenia (PTA First Channel – Ed.) on Wednesdays at
21.30.
The discussion was started by the interview of Chairman of the Council of
Public TV and Radio Company, Alexan Harutiunian to “Haikakan Zhamanak” daily
(March 8, 2006), titled “First Channel Freedom of Expression Under
Pressure”. Herein, Alexan Harutiunian stated in particular that the Council
of PTRC plans to officially apply to Chairman of RA National Assembly,
Arthur Baghdasarian with the proposal to reconsider the relations between
the TV company and the Parliament. According to Alexan Harutiunian, as PTRC
became a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (in early July 2005
– Ed.), a controversy rose between the charter of this organization and RA
NA Rules of Procedure (which, as mentioned above, obliges Public TV to
broadcast sessions of the Parliament on concrete day and time). Alexan
Harutiunian noted that Director of the Legal Department of the European
Broadcasting Union, Werner Rumphorst sent a written notification to the
Council of PTRC that the charter of this professional association of
national broadcasters requires preservation of editorial independence by the
latter and the right to use TV air on their own discretion. While, Alexan
Harutiunian emphasized, the current legislation actually empowers the
Parliament to limit freedom of expression on the First Channel, thus
violating democratic norms.
According to the Head of the Council of PTRC, to remove the controversy it
is essential to primarily annul the legal provisions, obliging the Public
Television to broadcast parliamentary programs. Alexan Harutiunian stated in
the interview to “Haikakan Zhamanak” that afterwards there are several
options of problem settlement. For instance, giving a separate channel to
the National Assembly, or paid broadcast of parliamentary programs on some
other channel, or their broadcast on Public TV by mutual agreement – after
NA appeal to the management of the Council of PTRC. “I even agree to the
option of a certain part of our budget sums to be allotted to the Parliament
for broadcasting programs on the channel of its own choice”, Alexan
Harutiunian noted.
At March 15 session of RA NA Standing Committee on Science, Education,
Culture and Youth, which heard and considered the account on the work of the
Council of PTRC in 2005, Alexan Harutiunian again turned to the issue of
covering the Parliament activity and stated that he already sent the letter
to the RA NA Speaker Arthur Baghdasarian. (As told to YPC at the Council of
PTRC, the letter was also addressed to RA President Robert Kocharian).
NA deputies commented on the proposal of the Chairman of the Council of
PTRC. In particular, the article “Deputies Will Give Life, But Not TV Air”,
published in “Hayots Ashkhar” daily (March 11, 2006), quoted the opinions of
several parliamentarians. Thus, the Head of the parliamentary faction of the
Republican Party of Armenia, Galust Sahakian views the proposal of the
Council of PTRC inexpedient, primarily because it was made in undue time:
“The faction has not yet discussed this issue, but let us not forget that it
is pre-election year. (…) I strongly doubt that the parliamentary majority
will give its agreement.” The Secretary of the faction of “Dashnaktsutiun”
Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Hrair Karapetian was also negatively
disposed: “We are for a transparent National Assembly that is the people
should know what the deputies are doing and what issues are raised to the
government by the factions of the political parties. (…) As for the
solution of this problem through an agreement with the Public Television,
this proposal is totally unclear. Public Television is financed by the state
budget, ratified by the National Assembly, and PTRC submits a report on its
activity to the Parliament.” The proposal of the Council of PTRC raised
concerns of the parliamentary opposition. Chairman of “National Unity”
faction Aghasi Arshakian said: “Parliamentary statements and
questions-answers to the government are the only real opportunity for the
opposition to get access to TV air. If such a proposal is introduced, it
will mean an attempt at restricting this opportunity too. Naturally, our
faction cannot encourage such a proposal and will vote against it.”
“168 Zham” newspaper (No. 30, March 21-23, 2006) voiced the opinion of one
of the leaders of “Dashnaktsutiun” party, deputy of RA NA Vahan
Hovhannisian: “I think it would be more appropriate to give full broadcast
but not necessarily on First Channel.”
“PRESS PHOTO” AWARD FOR ARMENIAN PHOTOJOURNALIST
On March 17 the results of international competition of photo journalists
were summed up. The contest was organized by “Press Photo” Polish Fund. Over
5 thousand photos were presented for 15 awards in five nominations (three
for each). In “Life Today” nomination, the first prize was awarded to “Black
Life” photo story of a famous Armenian photojournalist, head of “Patker”
photo agency, Ruben Mangasarian. The award ceremony will be held in Warsaw
on May 9. On the same day, the exhibition of the competition winners will be
opened.
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Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
Yerevan Press Club
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