YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 13-19, 2009
HIGHLIGHTS:
"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: PROBLEMS OF ARMENIAN TV AIR
COURT OF CASSATION DECLINED THE APPLICATION OF "A1+" FOUNDER
THE RIGHTS OF "ARAVOT" READERS WILL NOW BE DEFENDED BY A MEDIA OMBUDSMAN
"ANALYTICON" – A MAGAZINE FOR THOSE WHO THINK AND CARE
FIRST BIRTHDAY OF "HRAPARAK" DAILY
"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: PROBLEMS OF ARMENIAN TV AIR
On February 14 on the air of "Yerkir Media" TV company another "Press Club"
show was aired. The cycle is produced under Yerevan Press Club project,
supported by the Human Rights and Governance Grants Program of Open Society
Institute. The guests of the program host, YPC President Boris Navasardian
were the Deputy Executive Director of the Public Television of Armenia
Harutiun Harutiunian, the Vice Chairman of National Commission on Television
and Radio Zhirair Dadasian, Executive Director of Internews Media Support
NGO Nouneh Sargsian. The discussion centered on the problems of Armenian TV
air.
The next "Press Club" show will be aired on "Yerkir Media" on Saturday,
February 21, at 17.40.
COURT OF CASSATION DECLINED THE APPLICATION OF "A1+" FOUNDER
On February 19 the RA Court of Cassation declined the application of "A1+"
TV company founder, "Meltex" LLC, regarding the reconsideration of the two
rulings of the Court of Cassation. As it has been reported, the application
was admitted for consideration in January 2009 and referred to rulings of
February 27, 2004 and April 23, 2004 on suits of "Meltex" versus National
Commission on Television and Radio. On February 27, 2004 the Court of
Cassation left unchanged the ruling of the RA Commercial Court of January
21, that did not secure the demand of "Meltex" to annul the decision of the
National Commission on Television and Radio to grant "Cinemax" LLC a
broadcast license for 63rd UHF of Yerevan (claimed also by "A1+" TV
company). On April 23, 2004 the Court of Cassation left in force the ruling
of the Commercial Court of March 23 that rejected the suit of "Meltex" on
providing the company with specific justification of the refusals to grant
it a license in competitions held on June 11 and July 18, 2003. The present
application of "Meltex" to the Court of Cassation was due to the new
circumstance, the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights of June 17,
2008 on the suit of "A1+" founder versus the Republic of Armenia. The
European Court had recognized the refusals to grant "Meltex" a broadcast
license to be a violation of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human
Rights, i.e., of the right of the applicant to freely impart information and
ideas (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, January 16-22, 2009).
As YPC was told by one of "Meltex" attorneys, Ara Ghazarian, the decision of
Court of Cassation, publicized on February 19, says in particular that the
court rulings challenged by "A1+" founder were made in accordance with the
legislation in force in 2004 and are not subject to revision.
THE RIGHTS OF "ARAVOT" READERS WILL NOW BE DEFENDED BY A MEDIA OMBUDSMAN
On February 13 "Aravot" reported that the daily now has its media ombudsman
(reader’s editor). By an agreement between the owner, the Chief Editor of
"Aravot" Aram Abrahamian and the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression,
this position is taken by the Expert of the Committee Mesrop Harutiunian. As
YPC was told by Mesrop Harutiunian, his main responsibility as media
ombudsman will be to stand for the rights of "Aravot" readers. Mesrop
Harutiunian will also have a column in "Aravot" – monthly at this stage – to
present topics of interest to the audience.
"ANALYTICON" – A MAGAZINE FOR THOSE WHO THINK AND CARE
A new magazine has appeared in Mountainous Karabagh, titled "Analyticon".
The founder of the publication is "Stepanakert+" CJSC, the Chief Editor is
Gegham Baghdasarian. "Analyticon" is defined as a "magazine for those who
think and care", and its first issue is dealing with the lessons of 2008.
This very subject unites pieces by journalists and experts of Mountainous
Karabagh, Armenia, Abkhazia, Croatia, Georgia, Germany, Japan, Russia, South
Ossetia, USA.
FIRST BIRTHDAY OF "HRAPARAK" DAILY
On February 16 "Hraparak" daily celebrated its first birthday.
Yerevan Press Club congratulates colleagues on the anniversary and wishes
them success and prosperity.
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Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
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