Author: Vasilian Manouk

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

JULY 8-14, 2005

HIGHLIGHTS:

STATEMENT OF SEVEN NGOs ON AMENDMENTS TO RA CONSTITUTION

THIRTY-THIRD AND LAST “PRESS CLUB” SHOW

STUDY ON NATIONAL MINORITIES OF ARMENIA

PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE DRAFT LAW “ON MANDATORY COPY OF DOCUMENTS”

PTRC A FULL-FLEDGED MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN BROADCASTING UNION

SERVER OF “INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS” OUT OF ORDER

OSCE REPRESENTATIVE ON FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA PRAISES TURKEY FOR CHANGING
PENAL CODE

STATEMENT OF SEVEN NGOs ON AMENDMENTS TO RA CONSTITUTION

On July 13 seven NGOs of Armenia passed a joint statement on the draft
amendments to the RA Constitution.

The statement, signed by Yerevan Press Club, Journalists Union of Armenia,
Internews Armenia, Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression,
“Investigative Journalists”, “TEAM” Research Center and “Asparez”
Journalist’s Club of Gyumri, says:

“On July 7, 2005 the RA authorities sent the draft amendments to the RA
Constitution to the discussion of the Venice Commission, and on August 29 an
extraordinary session of the RA National Assembly is summoned to consider
the document.

The draft amendments to the Constitution have a provision, according to
which the members of the authority (here and below emphasized by statement
signatories), regulating the electronic media, are appointed by the RA
National Assembly upon the nomination by the RA President. According to the
draft authors, it is compliant with the Agreed Conclusions and Follow-up of
the Constitutional Reform Process, adopted at the meeting between the
European Commission for Democracy Through Law (Venice Commission) and the
Armenian authorities on June 23-24, 2005 in Strasbourg, one of the clauses
of which provides for the involvement of the National Assembly in the
process of nomination of the members of media regulatory authorities.

We insist that the corresponding definition in the draft, submitted for the
assessment of the Venice Commission, does not provide the best solution to
the issue of media freedom, independence and plurality and does not
adequately express the principles set in the Agreed Conclusions.

Firstly, the draft amendments make a reference to one regulatory authority
(this was explained by the authors to be referring to the authority,
regulating the private broadcasting), while according to the RA Law “On
Television and Radio”, there are two such bodies – the Council of Public
Television and Radio Company and the National Commission on Television and
Radio. Therefore, the provision must have referred not to one authority, but
to authorities, particularly, since the Agreed Conclusions mention “media
regulatory authorities “. The phrase “regulatory authorities for
broadcasting”/ “broadcasting regulatory bodies” is also used in
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Resolution 1458(2005) on
Constitutional Reform Process in Armenia.

Secondly, it would be more reasonable and effective that the National
Assembly, as a representative institution that expresses the interests of
various groups of society, nominate the members of the regulatory bodies,
and the President, as the constitutional guarantee and the head of state,
make the appointment. This will ensure the active involvement of various
power branches and of the public in the formation of these bodies. Further
on, after reform of the Constitution, the procedure for nomination by the NA
and approval or rejection by the President of the regulatory body members
will be defined by the amendments to the Law “On Television and Radio”.

We also believe that the Constitution should contain a provision that
prohibits any form of censorship. This proposal of ours is based on the
reality that in countries committed to democracy that used to have
censorship agencies in their recent past retain the threat of introducing
certain forms of disguised censorship. The provision on prohibiting any form
of censorship in the Constitution will be a guarantee for eliminating its
concealed manifestations in different laws.

We call on the RA National Assembly to include the provisions proposed by us
in the draft to be submitted for the second hearing.”

THIRTY-THIRD AND LAST “PRESS CLUB” SHOW

On July 11 on the evening air of the Second Armenian TV Channel the
thirty-third and last “Press Club” show was issued. The cycle is organized
by Yerevan Press Club under a homonymous project, supported by the OSI
Network Media Program.

The discussion subject of the representatives of leading media and
journalistic associations was the problems of media in the independent
Armenia. In the second part the program participants expressed their
opinions on the activities of Yerevan Press Club in the context of the 10th
anniversary of the organization on July 18 as well as on “Press Club” show
prospects.

STUDY ON NATIONAL MINORITIES OF ARMENIA

On July 8 the Journalists Union of Armenia hosted the presentation of the
second volume of the study “National Minorities of Republic of Armenia in
Modern Conditions of Civil Society Development”. The assistance in the
organization of the presentation was provided by Yerevan Press Club and the
London-based Media Diversity Institute (MDI). The book, edited by the
candidate of history, docent of Yerevan State University Yuri Mkrtumian was
produced by a group of authors, representing the Institute of Archeology and
Ethnography of the RA National Science Academy and “Vostan” Center of
Ethnocultural Studies, with the financial support of Open Society Institute
Assistance Foundation-Armenia. The first volume of the study was published
in 2000.

PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE DRAFT LAW “ON MANDATORY COPY OF DOCUMENTS”

On July 8 in Yerevan public hearings of the draft law “On Mandatory Copy of
Documents”, organized by Partnership for Open Society Initiative, were held.
The draft, developed by the RA National Assembly Standing Committee on
Science, Education, Culture and Youth Issues, was presented by the head of
the Committee Hranush Hakobian. The document stipulates in particular a
mandatory provision to libraries of at least 4 copies of periodical print,
audio and video production. On May 26 the draft was adopted by the RA NA in
the first hearing, and a number of its provisions is in need of changes and
clarifications, which has necessitated the conductance of public discussion
with the involvement of interested organizations.

PTRC A FULL-FLEDGED MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN BROADCASTING UNION

At the 56th General Assembly of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), held
on July 7-8 in Dubrovnik (Croatia), the Public Television and Radio Company
of Armenia became a full-fledged member of this professional association of
national broadcasters. Since 2004 PTRC was an associated member of the EBU.
Thus, the Public TV and Public Radio of Armenia gained the right to
rebroadcast programs and participate in the projects of EBU.

SERVER OF “INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS” OUT OF ORDER

On the evening of July 8 the server that hosted the web-page of
“Investigative Journalists” NGO and is located in the USA went out of order.
In the press release of “Investigative Journalists” of July 11 it was stated
that the server had been damaged by professionals, but it was so far unclear
from where the attack was made. In the interview to “Aravot” daily (July 13,
2005) the head of “Investigative Journalists” Edik Baghdasarian said that
the hacking might be related to the publications of a number of journalistic
investigations in “Hetq” online newspaper of the organization.

OSCE REPRESENTATIVE ON FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA PRAISES TURKEY FOR CHANGING
PENAL CODE

On July 7 the Vienna-based Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of
the Media issued a press release on the amendments to Turkey’s Penal Code,
adopted by the parliament of the country on June 29. Praising the amendments
made, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Miklos Haraszti
stressed at the same time that “despite some improvements, the amendments
for not sufficiently eliminate threats to freedom of expression and to a
free press”.

According to the expert assessment, presented by the Office of the OSCE
Representative in May, 23 provisions were to be revoked from Turkey’s Penal
Code. Seven provisions have been brought into line with media freedom
principles, the press-release noted, and “the deletion of most of the
provisions which assumed stronger sanctions when the media was involved” is
approved.

In particular, the OSCE Representative welcomed the fact that Article 305
(offences against fundamental national interests) of the Penal Code of
Turkey no longer stipulated criminal liability in two cases: when a demand
is made to withdraw Turkish troops from Northern Cyprus and when it is
claimed that Armenians were exposed to genocide.

At the same time Miklos Haraszti noted that in three major areas the media
freedom remains endangered, namely: the right of journalists to report and
discuss on public-interest issues is not secured; restrictions on access and
disclosure of information have not been lifted; defamation and insult
provisions remain a criminal rather than a civil offence, thereby leaving
the free discussion of public affairs at risk.

The OSCE Representative expressed his hope that modernization of Turkish
Penal Code would continue in the spirit of improving the freedom of public
scrutiny, while the provisions promoting self-censorship would all be
removed.

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

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Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
____________________________________________
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
375007, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
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Entertainment Weekly
July 8, 2005

YES;
Another sexy outing from the incandescent Joan Allen

Lisa Schwarzbaum

YES

Joan Allen, Simon Abkarian

R, 100 mins. (Sony Pictures Classics)

In Sally Potter’s Yes, an American research scientist meets a
Lebanese chef at a London dinner party. She’s an unhappy, pale beauty
and he’s a soulful, swarthy hunk, and the two fall upon each other
with ravenous desire. She’s a scientist, lost in a sterile marriage
(her husband is a cheating British diplomat), and he’s a chef, lost
in a country not his own (at home he was a surgeon). She is played by
Joan Allen, radiantly, maturely sexy, and he is played by
Armenian-Lebanese actor Simon Abkarian, ditto. The two speak in
verse–iambic pentameter, to be precise, the rhythmic beat that
echoes that of hearts–even when chopping parsley, making love,
arguing about religion and culture and geopolitics. And after an
East-meets-West, old-world-meets-new- imperialism quarrel (about
religion, culture, geopolitics), the two cry oui, oui, oui all the
way home. Or rather si, si, si: For reasons as unexplained as any in
this flushed, impetuous folly, reconciliation takes place in that
lovers’ Eden called Cuba.

Exotic, no? Potter, the writer-director of Orlando and The Tango
Lesson, has said she made Yes as an artistic response to 9/11–her
own idiosyncratic affirmative, as it were, in the face of a
cataclysmic negative. And she sets herself such a high formal level
of difficulty–and achieves images of such sensual intensity–that
there is a fascination to be had merely in swooning along with She
and He. Allen actually glows with arousal; Abkarian boasts black hair
so romance-novel photogenic that he’s excused from wearing a hairnet
in the restaurant kitchen. Parse the philosophy behind the spill of
words, though, and you’ll find intellectual jumble, junk. Better to
nod to Yes as a drowsing chant than take it seriously as a statement
of global concerns. C+ –LS

Pan Armenian News

EU COMMISSIONER FOR ENLARGEMENT CALLED TURKEY TO NORMALIZE RELATIONS WITH
ARMENIA

06.07.2005 05:25

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Mr. Olli Rehn, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement stated
that Turkey should normalize relations with Armenia and open the Armenia
border. In his words, the opening of the border is profitable for the
eastern regions of Turkey. However he noted that the recognition of the
`events of 1915-1916′ is not a precondition for opening membership
negotiations with Turkey. He regretted over the fact that the Turkish
authorities forbade the Armenian Genocide conference in the Bosphorus
University, Istanbul. The EU Commissioner noted that the EU has adopted
rigorous negotiation rules for Turkey. According to him, taking into account
the previous experience of the organization `more attention will be paid to
real steps and deeds than to commitments and words, Mediamax agency
reported.

MARMARIK RESERVOIR DESIGN WORK COMPLETED

YEREVAN, JUJY 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The Marmarik reservoir design work has
been completed. According to the director of the Irrigation Systems
Development Program’s Implementation Office Adibek Ghazarian, the
project is now under examination of the experts of the RA Ministry of
Urban Devepment who will present their conclusion next week, after
which a tender to choose the constructing organization will be
held. A. Ghazarian said that 9 mln USD needed for the reservoir’s
construction has been provided by the World Bank. It is envisaged to
complete the construction work in 30 months, which will make it
possible to irrigate 5 thousand ha of land. The reservoir was built on
Marmarik – the right tributary of the Hrazdan River in 1970. Yet it
has never been used, since on the first day of tests, the “body” of
the dam moved. It is envisaged to demolish the dam and build a new
one.

9TH ARMENIAN WORLD MEDICAL CONGRESS STARTS ITS WORK IN SAN FRANCISCO

SAN FRANCISCO, JULY 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The 9th Armenian
World Medical Congress started its work in San Francisco on June
29. Norayr Davidian, the RA Health Care Minister, the head of the
delegation arrived from Armenia, and Zoya Lazarian, the NKR Health
Care Minister made the opening speeches of the plenary sitting on June
29. Gagik Kirakosian, the RA Consul General to Los Angeles, presented
in his speech the greeting messages of Vartan Oskanian, the RA Foreign
Minister, and Tatul Margarian, the RA Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to the US, addressed to participants of the
congress. The 9th Medical Congress joint Armenian doctors, nurses,
dentists, pharmacists and specialists of other sphere to discuss
current problems, developments and gains of the sphere of health care
together. Emphasizing the necessity of the cooperation among different
medical organizations, during the plenary sittings, in their speeches,
specialists of different spheres of medicine attached importance to
activities of local community medical programs, particularly, the
Armenia Eye Care Project, Cochlear Impalnt-Armenia Regional Center,
Armenian Dental Society of California Projects in Armenia, etc. As
Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and
Information Department, the 9th Armenian World Medical Congress
continued its work till July 2.

Caucaz.com, Georgia
July 5 2005

Armenia is ready to develop a wider regional cooperation

Yerevan, July 4 – Armenia is ready to develop a wider regional
cooperation, including with Turkey without any preconditions.
According to RA Government’s Press Service Department, RA Prime
Minister Andranik Margaryan stated about this development during a
meeting with the Speaker of Lithuanian Parliament Arthuras
Paulauskas.

According to Margaryan, for this issue, Armenia relies on the support
of Lithuania. >From the Euro-integration viewpoint, Margaryan and
Paulauskas underlined the importance of the regional stability, as
well as of Armenia’s more active involvement in economic programs
implemented under the auspices of the EU.

According to the press release, Margaryan and Paulauskas mentioned
the importance of development and signing intergovernmental
agreements concerning the exchange of experience in attraction of
foreign investments for stimulation of Armenian-Lithuanian
partnership in various areas of economy.

Margaryan mentioned the importance of strengthening of
intergovernmental cooperation at bilateral level as well as in the
frames of numerous international relations. He expressed hope that
Lithuanian Ex-Speaker Vitautas Landsbergis post as a Deputy Chairman
of the European Parliament Commission on Relations with South
Caucasus States will contribute to more strengthening of the
relations of Armenia with European Parliament. Margaryan also
mentioned the importance of launching exposition devoted to the
Armenian Genocide in the Museum for the Victims of Genocide of
Vilnius Center for Genocide Studies.

Pan Armenian News

MARGARYAN: ONE SHOULD THINK OF REFORMS WHEN CONGRATULATING ON CONSTITUTION
10TH ANNIVERSARY

05.07.2005 03:19

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan has
congratulated the Armenian people on the 10th anniversary of adoption of the
Constitution. «By voting for the organic law of independent Armenia exactly
10 years ago on July 5 our people expressed its resoluteness to form a
law-governed state, civil society, protection of human rights and freedoms,
as well as democratic values,» his message says. In the Premier’s words the
past 10 years have shown that being put in practice the Constitution of
independent Armenia performed an important role and mission promoting
establishing independent statehood, securing the internal and external
stability of the country, gradual integration into the civilized world. «The
process of development of the state and society, new requirements of the
life have naturally brought to the need of reforms of the Organic Law of the
country,» the PM noted. Work was lately done to implement constitutional
reforms to make it comply with international standards. He also said he was
sure that at the referendum to be held this autumn the organic law of
Armenia will receive full understanding and contribution by the society as
10 years ago. Having received public votes the Armenian Constitution will
also promote implementation of basic principles, protection of human and
civil rights and freedoms declared by the Republic of Armenia, which is the
major guarantor of prosperity of our country.

Zaman Online, Turkey
July 4 2005

Is this how to Treat a Future Partner?

TAMER KORKMAZ

There is no surprise on the Western front. An announcement made by
the EU Commission on June 29 confirmed that Turkey’s negotiation
process will begin on October 3 and that the common goal will be
“full membership” under a “draft framework.”

Turkey’s opponents targeted the October 3 date after the referenda on
the EU Constitution, however, it was impossible for the EU to reneg
on its December 17 promise. Having had our roadmap clarified by the
“Draft Negotiation Framework,” our situation resembles that of a
soccer team that is relieved after winning an easy match, because its
past is full of consecutive defeats.

EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn reminds us that our full
membership is not something guaranteed, by pointing out that the
privileged partnership discussion will also continue in the years
ahead.

Our membership is not possible before 2014. French President
[Jacques] Chirac had mentioned “2020” a few months ago, however, most
recently, European Socialist Party leader Rasmussen said Turkey’s
integration into the EU might drag on until 2025 or 2030!

Our membership date is being adjourned day after day just like a
court trial. They seem to talking about a science fiction adventure
when they are talking about our EU journey!

It is being carefully emphasized that our negotiation process will be
very difficult and will take a long time. If they see serious
violations, the “open-ended” full membership target might be
suspended. German magazine Die Welt reports that paranoia and
intolerance are widely seen between the lines of the so-called draft
negotiation framework. It is right. The magazine says the first
sentence of the draft framework, which puts the responsibility for
success or failure on Turkey, is in fact, an invitation to privileged
partnership. (Recently, Die Welt also attracted attention by asking
what Turkey’s role was in an EU that is about to sink).

Those, who view the EU Commission’s statement as equivocal language,
make up the majority in the European media. Let’s ask as an Austrian
newspaper: Is this how to treat a future partner?

Turkey secured the October 3 date, nonetheless, this should never
create an illusion because the reality starts after October 3.

An analysis published in The Times three days ago, said Turkey’s EU
membership dreams should be killed during the membership negotiation
process! It is clearly evident that this strategy has been reflected
exactly on the draft negotiation framework.

The referenda in France and The Netherlands seriously hit the
enlargement process, hence, our full membership. Our opponents in
Europe say let’s finally admit Bulgaria and Romania (in 2007) and
then shut the door on enlargement. They want us to fall into the
situation of fans, who have been standing in line for hours to buy a
ticket for a derby match, and when their turn comes, the ticket
office window is suddenly slammed in their faces. The commentary in
The Times indicates that several EU diplomats believe the referenda
results made the killing of Turkey’s membership inevitable; but
because no politician wants to be accused of murder, it might be a
slow death! This is not for nothing. This analysis realistically
portrays the course of the “EU-style Western.”

We all saw that only Britain supported Turkey at the EU leaders’
summit two weeks ago (June 16-17). Even Chirac had to take a step
back. As a matter of fact, it is a high probability that Nicolas
Sarkozy is about to appear on the stage as the protagonist and say,
“let enlargement be suspended!” whenever he opens his mouth.

Apparently, they will put many unprecedented obstacles before us
during the negotiation process. For example, the Armenian issue…It is
certain that Turkey will not throw in the towel on the EU journey. It
should continue its EU bid in a steadfast manner; however, Ankara has
to stand up against possible “Twilight Zone” demands.

RA FOREING MINISTER STARTS NUMBER OF MEETINGS WITH TOP LEADERSHIP OF
LEBANON AND LOCAL ARMENIAN COMMUNITY

BEIRUT JULY 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Vartan Oskanian, the RA
Foreign Minister who is on a three-day visit in Beirut, started a
number of meetings with the top leadership of Lebanon on June 30. A
wide circle of issues put on the Armenian-Lebanese agenda is envisaged
to be discussed during the meetings with General Emil Lahud, the
President of the Republic of Lebanon; Nabih Berri, the Chairman of the
Parliament; Najib Mikatti, the Prime Minister; and Mahmoud Hammoud,
the Foreign Minister. The meetings started in the morning, with the
conversation with Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud. The Foreign
Ministers discussed a number of issues of bilateral and international
importance. Bilateral satisafction was expressed for significant
successes have been fixed in the sense of mutually beneficial
cooperation in different international instances since the
establishment of diplomatic relations. Meetings of the Foreign
Ministers of two countries have taken place regularly. In the
direction of activization of mutual contacts, regular consultations
envisaged by a corresponding interdepartment report signed in 2000 are
attached importance. Highly estimating the traditional close ties and
friendship between the two peoples, the Ministers mentioned the
importance the two countries attached to the mutual relations. Then,
they presented their approaches concerning a number of international
issues, particularly, concerning the UN reforms and developments of
the Near East. Minister Oskanian briefly touched upon the settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict as well as the Armenian-Turkish
relations. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s
Press and Information Department, at the meeting with Prime Minister
Najip Mikatti, Minister Oskanian congratulated him for supporting
greatly to keeping stability and peace of the country during the short
terms of his officiating as well as for organizing the parliamentary
elections at a high level in a short time. Though it is a transitional
government, and a new one will be formed soon, hence, during the
exchange of opinions with the Prime Minister, it was reitereted that a
dynamic development of the Armenian-Lebanese ties will be secured by
any Lebanese Government. In midday, the RA Foreign Minister visited
the private residence of the family of Rafik Hariri, the former Prime
Minister of Lebanon, and the Prime Minister’s wife and son, Saadedi
Hariri, the leader of the “Future” Movement, a MP, and, on his behalf
and behalf of the authorities of Armenia, again presented condolence
with Hariri’s rough murder. The Minister mentioned that Armenia
seriously condemned that inhuman terrorism action and other terrors
followed it. Refering to personal warm relations with Rafik Hariri,
V.Oskanian mentioned that martyr Prime Minister always was a great
friend of the Armenian people and Armenia. His three visits to
Armenia, the last of which took place in April, 2004, are the evidence
of it. The Minister especially expressed satisfaction on the occasion
of practical agreements of the Armenian-Lebanese Intergovernmental
Economy Commission carried out under Hariri’s patronage during his
last visit. The participants of the meeting expressed readiness to
continue the cooperation in the direction of development of the
Armenian-Lebanese relations. Then, Vartan Oskanian, accompanied by
Areg Hovhannisian, the RA Ambassador to Lebanon, left for the Martyrs’
Square of Beirut and laid a wreath to Rafik Hariri’s grave. Four
Armenian Deputies of the parliamentary bloc headed by Saad Hariri were
also present at the ceremony. On the same day, Minister Oskanian
visited the Armenian Catholic Patriarchy as well, where he had a
conversation with Catholicos-Patriarch Nerses Bedros Tarmuni and
representatives of the Armenian Catholic Community about a number of
issues the Lebanese Armenians are interested in, about the
Armenian-Diasporan ties as well as the Armenian-Turkish relations.
After the midday, V.Oskanian’s visit to the Haykazian University of
Beirut is envisaged, where he will meet with the lecturers’ and
professors’ staff and in the evening, he will deliver a lecture before
the Lebanese Armenians at the hall of the Armenian Gospel
Church. Later, in honour of the Foreign Minister of Armenia, a
receiption will be organized at the RA Embassy.

ARMENIAN-SYRIAN POLITICAL CONSULTATIONS

A1plus

| 19:04:08 | 28-06-2005 | Politics |

Today RA Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Gegham Gharibjanyan
received the delegation headed by Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmad
Arnous. The joint delegation of the Syrian Ministries of Finance and
Foreign Affairs arrived in Armenia on a 3-day visit to hold recurrent
political consultations and sign an agreement on avoiding double
taxation between the governments of the two states.

During the visit the parties discussed issues of mutual interest as
well as the prospects of cooperation with international organizations
and some regional problems available in the Near East and South
Caucasus.

The discussions focused on widening the legal field and trade economic
relations.