NATIOAL MEDIA UNDER PRESSURE: OSCE CONCERNED
Panorama.am
18:38 22/12/2007
Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) announced
that they are worried about the freedom of national media. Miklos
Haraszti, the representative of OSCE on freedom of speech questions
particularly noted that they are seriously worried about the pressure
served against "Gala" TV station and "Forth Power" newspaper. He
said that in the results of those pressures the regional TV station
broadcasting could stop its activities.
Miklos Haraszti sent a letter to Vardan Oskanyan, the foreign affairs
minister connected with this issue.
According to the official web page of the organization the letter
particularly covers the following: The recent cases of harassment and
violence against independent and opposition media have contributed to
an atmosphere of intimidation and fear in the journalistic community
in Armenia.
"I trust that the local authorities will not male arbitrary decision
and demonstrate goodwill for a compromise settlement, so that Gala
TV can continue broadcasting," said Haraszti.
Mr. Haraszti expressed his thoughts about the recent harassments
happened to "Forth Power" newspaper, "I urge Armenia’s law enforcement
bodies to punish the perpetrators not just for the sake of justice
but also to give support to freedom of expression in the country."