YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 26 – MARCH 4, 2010
HIGHLIGHTS:
"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION
HEARINGS ON THE SECOND SUIT OF "ARAVOT", NOW VERSUS GOVERNOR OF LORI REGION
PARLIAMENT VOTED AGAINST ABOLITION OF MORATORIUM ON BROADCAST LICENSING
COMPETITIONS
"543210…" BY ZAVEN KHACHIKIAN
"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION
On March 2, another "Press Club" show went on the air of "Yerkir Media" TV
company. The cycle is produced under Yerevan Press Club project, supported
by the Open Society Institute. The guests of the program host, YPC President
Boris Navasardian were Marat Atovmian, member of State-Legal Affairs
Commission of Public Council under RA President, Levon Barseghian, Board
Chairman of "Asparez" Journalists’ Club of Gyumri, and Edik Baghdasarian,
Head of "Investigative Journalists" NGO, Chief Editor of "Hetq" newspaper.
The discussion centered on the fight against corruption in Armenia.
The next "Press Club" show will be aired on "Yerkir Media" on March 9, at
21.15.
HEARINGS ON THE SECOND SUIT OF "ARAVOT", NOW VERSUS GOVERNOR OF LORI REGION
On February 25 in Vanadzor the RA Administrative Court started hearing the
suit of "Aravot" daily founder, "Aravot Oratert" LLC, versus Aram Kocharian,
Governor of Lori Region. The plaintiff demands to hold the inaction of the
Governor, who did not provide information on expenditure of budgetary funds.
The plaintiff’s representative at court is the Freedom of Information
Center.
As it has been reported, earlier a similar suit was filed by the founder of
"Aravot" versus the Governor of Shirak region (see YPC Weekly Newsletter,
January 29 – February 4, 2010). On August 19, 2009 "Aravot" daily e-mailed
all Armenian Governors requesting on how the subsidiary funds of 70 million
AMD (about $ 185,000), allocated from the state budget in 2005-2009 to each
region, are expended. Only the Governors of Shirak and Lori regions did not
answer to the request, therefore, the founder of "Aravot" filed a suit with
the assistance of FOI Center.
At the session of February 25 the defendant was told that in 2005 the RA
Government approved the order of usage of e-documents and e-signatures by
administrative bodies. According to the order, the Lori administration was
to answer to the request. The next court session will take place on March
12.
PARLIAMENT VOTED AGAINST ABOLITION OF MORATORIUM ON BROADCAST LICENSING
COMPETITIONS
On February 24 at a regular session the RA National Assembly voted down the
draft law on introducing an amendment to the RA Law "On Television and
Radio". The draft on abolishing the moratorium on broadcast licensing
competitions was initiated by deputies from "Heritage" faction Anahit
Bakhshian and Armen Martirosian. As it has been reported, on September 10,
2008 the parliament passed the amendment to Point 14 of Article 59 of the RA
Law "On Television and Radio", suspending the broadcast licensing
competitions for two years, till July 20, 2010 (see YPC Weekly Newsletter,
September 5-11, 2008). This raised and continues raising serious concerns of
the Armenian journalistic community and international organizations.
Particularly, they claim that the introduction of the moratorium runs
counter the ruling of European Court of Human Rights of June 17, 2008 on the
suit of "A1+" TV company, depriving the latter to take part in a new
competition.
Meanwhile, at the session of February 24 the majority of deputies voted
against the abolition of the amendment to Broadcast Law (70 – con, 24 – pro
and 3 – abstention).
"543210…" BY ZAVEN KHACHIKIAN
On March 2 at "Academy" Gallery of Yerevan the opening of a 2-day exhibition
of well-known photojournalist Zaven Khachikian and the presentation of his
album was held. The event was organized with the assistance of Yerevan Press
Club.
The album reflects images of children who prove the joy and the sorrow of
the world. According to its author, the play of numbers "543210…" in the
album title denotes the age of Zaven Khachikian, 54, the initially planned
date of presenting his work to the public – 03/02/10 (March 2, 2010).
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Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
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