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Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
Email: root@acnis.am or info@acnis.am
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The National Citizens’ Initiative
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 – 10) 27.16.00, 27.00.03
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
Email: info@nci.am
Website:

May 10, 2007

ACNIS and NCI Conclude Monitoring of Pre-Election Media Coverage

Yerevan–The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS),
together with the National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI), today convened a
policy roundtable to present the final results of its monitoring project
that focused on media coverage in the run-up to the parliamentary elections
of May 12. The meeting brought together NGO representatives, leading
analysts, policy specialists, and members of the press.

ACNIS director of research Stepan Safarian opened the conference with the
reminder that, at the beginning of 2007, a specialized monitoring group
under the auspices of ACNIS had launched a four-month project to analyze
television and print media coverage, specifically as they relate to the
forthcoming elections. The monitoring, which covered the country’s
most-watched television programs, accounted for all information disseminated
about the leaders of major political parties, the distribution of airtime,
and several other key factors. "According to the monitoring results,
pro-establishment forces have carried out an extensive campaign in
electronic media which support the incumbent authorities and certain
parallel political forces," Safarian said. "The election-related activities
of the various political players were not covered equally. The coverage of
opposition campaigns was either biased or tainted with sarcasm. Very often,
however, there was no coverage to speak of."

The first speaker, ACNIS analyst Syuzanna Barseghian, presented the final
results for the monitoring of television newscasts. According to her study,
H1 Public Television was the clear leader with respect to the most airtime
devoted to the forthcoming elections. The monitoring did not include, she
made sure to mention, the activities of political parties and state
officials that did not relate directly to the elections.

"The monitoring has illustrated that certain electronic media advance the
interests of specific political parties or pro-establishment forces," the
monitoring group concluded.

In her turn, ACNIS associate expert on human rights Zhanna Aleksanian
presented the final results for the monitoring of the pre-election cycle.
The report incorporated party actions that conflict with the Election Code,
illegal acts committed by state bodies that are charged with the conduct of
fair elections, and all criminal actions that cast doubt on the election
process. In Aleksanian’s words, reported intimidation reached its peak
during the campaign season. "The official campaign period-as well as the
interval leading up to it-was full of blatant violations of the Election
Code," Aleksanian noted. "The authorities, therefore, have demonstrated
their lack of political will to conduct free, fair, and democratic
elections."

Participants in the ensuing discussion included Artak Zeinalian of the
Republic Party; analyst Karine Batoyan; policy specialist Levon Zurabian of
the International Crisis Group; and various others.