STATE IS CALLED TO SECURE IMPLEMENTATION OF LEGAL GUARANTEES FOR MEDIA ACTIVITY, YOUTH STRUCTURES OF A NUMBER OF PARTIES STATE

Noyan Tapan
Sept 11 2006

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The blameworthy act of violance
taken place towards "Iravunk" newspaper editor Hovhannes Galajian
is continuation of not enough steps taken by corresponding state
bodies in the direction of revealing and undertaking balanced actions
towards authors and organizers of similar acts of violance, cases
of violences committed towards journalists, threats, obstracting
of professional activity or fulfilment of not balanced punitive
measures. It is mentioned in the joint statement of the youth
structures of the "Orinats Yerkir" (Country of Law), NDU, ARF, ANM,
ANA, "Hanrapetituin" (Republic) parties, Democratic Party of Armenia
and a number of public organizations. The statement was made public
at the September 8 press conference.

OYP youth wave chairman Samvel Farmanian mentioned that if men
commiting acts of violence remain unpunished this time as well,
and corresponding bodies display inactivity, the wave of violences
will grow larger during the coming elections. The statement authors
are anxious with the fact that in parallel to approach of the coming
parliamentary elections, they become evidences of a new wave of acts
of violence and threats towards journalists. They are sure that "the
atmosphere in which the coming state elections will be held, will be
considerably provided by the circumstance to what extent corresponding
state institutes will be able to keep the public-political life and
democratic institutions of the country from assaults and violences
of criminogenic elements."

According to the statement, media freedom and legal guarantees for
journalists’ professional activity are important preconditions on the
way of improvement of democracy, and the state is called to secure
indubitable implementation of those legal guarantees. And "those
violences, threats and pressures are committed and put and encouraged
by those people and forces who are against improvement of a democratic
and free society in Armenia as well as are anxious with the fact that
some aspects of their activity will become the society’s property with
the help of media." The press conference organizers stated that they
are going to pass the joint statement to the RA Prosecutor’s General
Office, at the same time expressing confidence that they will not
receive any response from the prosecutor’s office. S.Farmanian menioned
that they will be consistent and, in the case of not getting a response
from the prosecutor’s office, they will organize an action of protest.