ARMENIAN JOURNALIST ORGANIZATIONS MARK WORLD DAY OF PRESS FREEDOM
Noyan Tapan
May 04 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 4, NOYAN TAPAN. At the beginning of the press conference
convened at the Armenian Journalists’ Union on the occasion of the
World Day of Press Freedom those present stood in silence in memory of
the victims of the crashed A-320 plane of Armavia airline. Touching
upon the event of the day, Union Chairwoman Astghik Gevorgian
said that freedom of speech is one of the greatest achievement of
RA independence. According to Yerevan Press Club Chairman Boris
Navasardian, May 3 in the whole world is considered not so much a
holiday as an occasion to raise issues connected with freedom of
press and speech. In particular, UNESCO that has announced May 3
as the World Day of Press Freedom put forward the role of press in
poverty reduction as the main problem.
And the World Association of Newspapers as the main problem mentioned
protection of the journalists who are in prisons. According to
B.Navasardian, only in 2005, 500 journalists were imprisoned. The
Yerevan Press Club, the Armenian Journalists’ Union, the Internews
NGO and the Committee on Protection of Freedom of Speech made a
statement, in which they raised a number of problems of the Armenian
media. The legislative reforms in the sphere of mass media, raising
of the role of press in fighting corruption, in struggle against
violation of citizens’ rights, assistance to free and transparent
political disputes and unbiassed coverage are among them. The first
prize-winner of the prize set by the above-mentioned organizations in
connection with the World Day of Press Freedom became editor of the
“Aravot” newspaper Aram Abrahamian.