YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
SEPTEMBER 26 – OCTOBER 2, 2008
HIGHLIGHTS:
"PRESS CLUB" AND "PRESS CLUB+": ACCOMPLISHMENT OF ARMENIA OF PACE
RESOLUTIONS AND LOCAL SELF-ADMINISTRATION INSTITUTE
COMPLICATED STORY WITH A TRAGIC END
COURT STARTED HEARINGS OF THE CASE OF IJEVAN MUNICIPALITY VERSUS
"INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS"
CANDIDATE TO THE PREFECT POSITION ANNOUNCED THAT TV COMPANIES REFUSED TO
BROADCAST HIS CAMPAIGN MATERIALS
OSCE REPRESENTATIVE ON FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA: DIGITALIZATION SHOULD NOT BE
ALLOWED TO REDUCE DIVERSITY AND PLURALITY
GOLD KEYS AND RUSTY LOCKS OF THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION CENTER
"SHOGHAKAT" MOVED TO A NEW BUILDING
"PRESS CLUB" AND "PRESS CLUB+": ACCOMPLISHMENT OF ARMENIA OF PACE
RESOLUTIONS AND LOCAL SELF-ADMINISTRATION INSTITUTE
On October 1 another show of "Press Club" cycle went on air of "Yerkir
Media" TV company. It is produced by Yerevan Press Club with support of the
Open Society Institute Human Rights and Governance Grants Program. The
guests of the "Press Club" host, the President of Yerevan Press Club Boris
Navasardian, were Observer of First Channel of Public Television of Armenia
Armen Dulian, Responsible for Foreign Relations of Armenian National
Congress Vladimir Karapetian, and the Director of International Center of
Human Development Tevan Poghosian. "Press Club" participants continued last
program’s discussion of the obligations of Armenia before the Council of
Europe and implementation of PACE Resolutions 1609 "The Functioning of
Democratic Institutions in Armenia" and 1620 "The Implementation by Armenia
of Assembly Resolution 1609 (2008)" (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, September
19-25, 2008).
The next program of "Press Club" cycle will be aired by "Yerkir Media" on
Wednesday, October 8, at 23.00.
On September 27 another show of "Press Club+" cycle went on air of "Yerkir
Media" TV company. It is produced by Yerevan Press Club with support of the
Embassy of Great Britain in Armenia. Talk show participants, Chairman of
Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression Ashot Melikian, Head of Local
Self-Administration Department of the RA Ministry of Territorial
Administration Ashot Giloyan, and Vice-President of the Association of
Community Financiers David Tumanian, discussed whether the local
self-administration institution is fully established in Armenia. The
audience composed of representatives of civil society of Gyumri also
participated in the discussion.
The next program of "Press Club+" cycle will be aired by "Yerkir Media" on
Saturday, October 4, at 17.40.
COMPLICATED STORY WITH A TRAGIC END
During the last days press was writing about the disappearance of the Head
of "Radiolur" news program of Public Radio of Armenia Artur Sahakian: he did
not show up at the work, did not answer the phone calls. On September 29
information appeared on the web site of RA Police about the incident with
Arthur Sahakian, which took place on September 20 and continued the next
day. Nevertheless, the official information about the incident and the
version of the journalist himself that appeared in a number of newspapers on
September 30 contradict each other. According to Artur Sahakian, he has to
hide now because his life is endangered on behalf of the encirclement of the
RA National Assembly deputy, businessman Levon Sargsian who work in
agreement with some police officials. Besides, an eyewitnesses of the
incident accused the journalist of a rape attempt.
Andranik Babayan, a friend of Artur Sahakian, fell a victim of the incident
and died in the hospital on September 29, without coming to consciousness
after the beating that took place on September 21. On the same day,
September 21, Director of "Urbat" Club, Chief Editor of "Urbat Report"
weekly, Abel Mikaelian, who was in one of Yerevan cafes together with Artur
Sahakian, was beaten. Although the act of violence was to all appearances
done by a big group of people, according to the RA Police information above,
only one person was arrested, coming to the police and confessing that he
beat Andranik Babayan and Abel Mikaelian. On October 2, press informed that
two more suspected were detained.
On October 1, 2008 "Aravot" daily published a statement of Abel Mikaelian,
who is hiding at present. Abel Mikaelian urged the media not connect his
name, the name of late Andranik Babayan, as well as "Urbat" Club and "Urbat
Report" with the incident of September 20-21.
Yerevan Press Club will follow the events around this complicated story.
COURT STARTED HEARINGS OF THE CASE OF IJEVAN MUNICIPALITY VERSUS
"INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS"
On September 29 hearings on the case of Ijevan municipality (Tavush region)
versus "Investigative Journalists" NGO, the founder of "Hetq" on-line,
started in the Civil Court of Yerevan. The plaintiff demands to refute the
information discrediting to honor, dignity and business reputation of Ijevan
Mayor Varuzhan Nersisian – as seen by the city administration to be present
in the article of "Hetq" correspondent in Tavush region Voskan Sargsian
"Whose Pocket Receives Money from Sand Mine?". The article was published in
"Hetq" on May 5, 2008, and also printed on May 20, 2008, in a supplement to
"Azg" daily, "Transparent Local Self-Government", produced by "Investigative
Journalists" (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, July 4-10, 2008). The plaintiff
also demanded that the respondent refund his expenses for lawyer’s legal
services in the amount of 930 thousand drams (approximately $ 3,100).
On the hearing of September 29, Ijevan municipality brought to the court
another suit as well demanding to refute also the information present in the
article "Will the Three Commissions Notice the Illegal Use of Sand?"
(published in "Hetq" on June 23, 2008, and in the supplement to "Azg"
"Transparent Local Self-Government" on July 9, 2008). The judge provided the
respondent time to prepare objections to the new suit and scheduled the next
hearing for October 13.
Meanwhile, the "Investigative Journalists", in their turn, applied to the RA
Administrative Court with a suit against Ijevan municipality. In September
the suit was taken over for proceedings. On July 2, 2008 "Investigative
Journalists" required Ijevan municipal administration to give the copies of
the session protocol of May 23, 2008 and the decision of the Council of
Elderly to allot 930 thousand drams from the city budget to cover the
expenses of lawyer’s legal services for the above-mentioned suit versus
"Investigative Journalists". In the written reply of Ijevan Mayor of July 8,
2008, it was said that required information can be provided only by the end
of the legal proceedings. "Investigative Journalists" demanded to oblige the
administration of Ijevan to give them the information and refund their
expenses for lawyer’s legal services in the amount of 114 thousand drams
(approximately $ 380).
CANDIDATE TO THE PREFECT POSITION ANNOUNCED THAT TV COMPANIES REFUSED TO
BROADCAST HIS CAMPAIGN MATERIALS
Several days before the elections of the head of administration of Kentron
community of Yerevan (that took place on September 28, 2008), one of the two
running candidates, Board Chairman of the Armenian National Movement Ararat
Zurabian announced that a number TV companies refused to broadcast his
election campaign materials. According to Ararat Zurabian, only two TV
companies agreed – "Yerkir Media" and "ALM". However, the advertisement was
aired by "Yerkir Media" only once, and "ALM" broadcasted it during one day
only.
Member of the Armenian National Movement Board Aram Manukian told YPC that,
as agreed upon with "ALM", Ararat Zurabian’s political advertisement had to
be aired during two days, yet it was not broadcasted on the second day due
to "the pressure exert upon the TV company". Regarding "Yerkir Media", Aram
Manukian said that the agreement was annulled unilaterally by the TV
company.
Director of the News and Current Affairs Programs of "Yerkir Media" Gegham
Manukian explained YPC that Ararat Zurabian’s advertisement was accepted by
the relevant department by mistake. Gegham Manukian pointed out that during
those elections "Yerkir Media" decided not to offer air for campaign
materials of the candidates to the local self-administration bodies. "We did
not offer air to the other candidate, acting head of Kentron community Gagik
Beglarian, and were not going to do it for Ararat Zurabian. That is why
after the first demonstration of the advertisement it was stopped, and
Ararat Zurabian was informed about it", stressed Gegham Manukian.
OSCE REPRESENTATIVE ON FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA: DIGITALIZATION SHOULD NOT BE
ALLOWED TO REDUCE DIVERSITY AND PLURALITY
On September 26, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos
Haraszti asked the Government of Armenia to review the addition to the RA
Law "On Television and Radio" adopted on September 10 by the National
Assembly of Armenia. As it was reported, according to this addition,
broadcast licensing competitions are suspended till July 20, 2010. The
amendment came into force on September 27 (see YPC Weekly Newsletter,
September 5-11, 2008, and September 12-18, 2008).
In his letter to RA President Serge Sargsian, Miklos Haraszti in particular
pointed out: "By cutting off any potential applicant broadcasters from
entering the market until 2010, the limited pluralism in Armenia’s
broadcasting sector will be further diminished. A moratorium on new licenses
for analogue transmission should not be the first step in the transition to
digital broadcasting. Digitalization should not be allowed to reduce
diversity and plurality or preserve a lack thereof. If the broadcasting
landscape in a country is not sufficiently pluralistic and diverse, it would
be appropriate to delay digitalization and undertake other reforms first."
In the opinion of Miklos Haraszti, moratorium on licensing meant that
Armenia will not be able to comply with the June 2008 decision of the
European Court of Human Rights that upheld the case of "A1+" TV company (see
YPC Weekly Newsletter, June 13-19, 2008). OSCE Representative also reminded
that in April 2008 the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, in
its turn, also urged Armenia to "ensure an open, fair and transparent
licensing procedure" and allow "A1+" to apply for a new license.
Miklos Haraszti offered his Office’s legal analysis and recommendations to
the amendments to the broadcasting law: "I hope that, for the sake of
pluralism, the Government of Armenia will review the amendments with the
active participation of all relevant civil society and media stakeholders."
GOLD KEYS AND RUSTY LOCKS OF THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION CENTER
On September 26 at "Regine" hotel in Yerevan the ceremony of awarding the
winners of Freedom of Information Center’s annual competition took place.
The event was dedicated to the International Right to Know Day (established
in 2002) and organized with the assistance of USAID.
The most open institution in 2008 was recognized to be the Eghegnadzor
municipality.
The best official Internet-source from the point of view of freedom of
information was recognized the web-site of the RA Ministry of Education and
Science.
The most active defenders of their civil right to information were named the
citizens of Yerevan Artashes Hovhannisian and Armine Arakelian.
The public organization that is most active and efficient in using its right
to information was named to be "Hakastver".
Among the media of the country, the one most consistent in covering the
freedom of information issues and actively using the RA Law "On Freedom of
Information" was announced "Yerkir Media" TV company, and among the
journalists – Observer of "Yerkir Media" Mariam Barseghian.
By tradition all persons and organizations, listed above, received prizes of
a gold key – as a symbol of openness.
The most closed local self-government body in 2008 was recognized to be
Hrazdan municipality.
Ijevan municipality was awarded the title of "state institution that gave
incorrect or curious information" (the litigation between Ijevan
municipality and "Investigative Journalists" NGO – see above).
The municipalities of Hrazdan and Ijevan were awarded a rusty lock – a
symbol of secrecy.
"SHOGHAKAT" MOVED TO A NEW BUILDING
On September 26 opening of a new building of "Shoghakat" TV company took
place in Yerevan (Hovsepian str. 8). Before that "Shoghakat" occupied one of
the buildings in Holy See Echmiadzin residence.
When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.
You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
pressclub@ypc.am
Subscription for the Newsletter is free. To subscribe or unsubscribe from
this mailing list, please send a message to: info@ypc.am
Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
_____________________________________ _______
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
0002, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
E-mail: pressclub@ypc.am
Web Site: