THE SECURITY OF THE PEOPLE AND THE COUNTRY IS THE PRIMARY ISSUE
Gevorg Harutyunyan
Hayots Ashkhar Daily
March 18, 2008
As we know the 20 days of the state of emergency expires on March
21. During his meeting with the journalists yesterday, presidential
Press Secretary Victor Soghomonyan informed with satisfaction that
no breaches have been recorded during the state of emergency.
" We are satisfied with the social perception of the maintenance
of state of emergency. At the moment the President of the Republic
doesn’t have any intention to prolong the state of emergency. During
the past days we have heard various announcements made by the foreign
and local political frameworks regarding the restrictions on the
freedom of speech.
This fuss is rather strange for different reasons. If from the
beginning the decree has enshrined what is allowable, in terms of
the freedom of speech, the decree of March 13 has clearly enshrined
what is not allowed. There has been no restriction on the freedom
of speech in Armenia. The certain limitations have been aimed at the
provision of the security of the people and the country."
The presidential Press Secretary considered senseless the claims to
lift the state of emergency, something that is temporary in itself
and is not going to work after the deadline. " It is really strange
though we are trying to understand those people, because they are
doing their work."
Many representatives of press announce that it hinders their activity.
Whereas according to Victor Soghomonyan in reality, up to March 21
they are simply not allowed to spread evidently false information
regarding the state and internal political issues which will lead to
the destabilization of the situation. When after the decree certain
newspapers were going to publish, some of them have been seized.
"The thing is "Jamanak Yerevan" newspaper for example was going to
print that the authorities are allegedly afraid of giving the true
number of the victims and to express their condolences to the relatives
of the victims. They were also going to print lots of false information
about the political prisoners, as well as cases of the violation of
Constitution. They also state that there are many victims whose fate
is mysterious." The speaker said.
Newspaper "Hayk" for example reported that many of the arrested
have allegedly been severely beaten in the police. Similar examples
are numerous.
And those who make these announcements can’t even wait for 3 days;
they want to lie even during the state of emergency. What we suggest
is not to lie up to March 21 and after it they can lie and I’m sure
they will."
Victor Soghomonyan also underscored that the editor in chief of
"Haykakan Jamanak" who is under investigation for grave criminal
offence, not only refutes the facts broadcast by TV, but also makes
announcements that have nothing to do with the reality. "He has no
complications, in terms of lying. It is evident. The National Security
officers have pointed out all the false information and proposed the
representatives of the newspapers to remove them from the newspaper
and only after it to get them printed. But they refused."
Considering the appeals for the destabilization of the situation
and provocations as extremely dangerous, the presidential Press
Secretary said it is practically impossible to avert the release of
the electronic Media.
"They can post provocative, false information in Internet, knowing
that they are not responsible for it. So from all this we can draw
conclusions regarding the freedom of speech in our country.
One of the newspapers for example had the following note at the
bottom of the newspaper. "We are published in conditions of the
state of emergency, that is why try to approach with understanding
our titanic efforts of working "in the framework of the law".
Victor Soghomonyan says the Mass Media can evidently have a big role in
the destabilization of the situation in the country. A good example is
the broadcast of the interview of the Head of the observation mission
by "Radio Liberty". They have broadcast the parts where he spoke
about the failings only. But Arens made positive statements as well.
The Presidential Press Secretary considered it important to mention
over again that the main objective of the state of emergency is to
provide security for the people and the country. "We haven’t been
against or supported any group, we simply protect democracy from
demagogy and manifestations of extremism. And this is evident. When
they were fighting terrorism in the USA, they took lots of measures
that were against democracy. But the world approached it with
understanding, because the security of the people and the country is
a primary issue for everyone."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
