YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 18-24, 2005
HIGHLIGHTS:
2004: YEAR OF ATTACKS ON JOURNALISTS
THIRTEENTH “PRESS CLUB” SHOW
“HAIKAKAN ZHAMANAK” CHALLENGED THE RULING ON DISCONTINUING THE INVESTIGATION
ON THE IGNITION OF EDITORIAL CAR
PRIZES FOR THE COVERAGE OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS
TEAM REPORTING PROJECT OF ARMENIAN AND GEORGIAN JOURNALISTS IN
SAMTSKHE-JAVAKHETIA
PRESS-SECRETARY OF THE PRESIDENT NOW AN AMBASSADOR
2004: YEAR OF ATTACKS ON JOURNALISTS
On the web site of Yerevan Press Club () in “Studies” section the
Annual Report of Yerevan Press Club and Committee to Protect Freedom of
Expression on freedom of speech in Armenia in 2004 is placed. The report
lists chronologically the cases of violating the rights of journalists and
media (various forms of pressure, impeding the professional activities),
litigations, the legislative initiatives and changes, affecting the media
sphere. The freedom of expression and media situation in 2004 is
characterized primarily by attacks on representatives of “the fourth estate”
to impede their professional activities.
THIRTEENTH “PRESS CLUB” SHOW
On February 21 on the evening air of the Second Armenian TV Channel the
thirteenth “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 heads of leading media and journalistic associations of Armenia
discussed the relations between Armenia and Turkey. The program participants
expect the following themes to be central for the Armenian media next week:
the 17th anniversary of Armenian pogroms in Sumgait; the European tour of
the US President George Bush, in particular his Bratislava meeting with the
Russian President Vladimir Putin; events in the countries of Middle East.
“HAIKAKAN ZHAMANAK” CHALLENGED THE RULING ON DISCONTINUING THE INVESTIGATION
ON THE IGNITION OF EDITORIAL CAR
On February 24 “Haikakan Zhamanak” daily reported that on February 23 it
addressed the Prosecutor of Yerevan Hrachia Badalian with a petition to
abolish the ruling on stopping the investigation on the criminal case on the
ignition of the car, owned by “Haikakan Zhamanak” and used by its Chief
Editor. As it has been reported, the resolution on stopping the
investigation was made in early February by an employee of the Yerevan
Investigation Department of the RA Police Ashot Kostanian (see YPC Weekly
Newsletter, February 4-10, 2005). The ignition of the editorial car occurred
on November 22, 2004 and, according to the conclusion of the forensic fire
examination, it was caused by an open fire source.
In the same piece of February 24 “Haikakan Zhamanak” published quotes from
the ruling mentioned above. According to them, the ruling of stopping the
investigation is grounded by Ashot Kostanian on that no one was identified
to be charged with the case. At the same time, the investigator thought it
necessary to direct a copy of the ruling to Center Department of the Yerevan
Police “to continue the operative inquiry to determine the person who
committed the crime”.
PRIZES FOR THE COVERAGE OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS
On February 23 in Yerevan the Center of Public Dialogue and Development
rewarded the winners of the journalistic competition “Armenia-Turkey: Open
Conversation”, held by this public organization. The prize for the best TV
program was awarded to Vahram Martirosian, the author and the host of
“Revolution” cycle, aired on “Kentron” TV channel in 2004. The prize for the
best TV piece was granted to Haikaram Nahapetian, the correspondent of the
Public Television of Armenia. The prize for the best article in print media
was conferred on Narineh Stepanian, the correspondent of Armenian “Aragast”
newspaper, published in Los Angeles, USA. A special prize was awarded to
Marineh Mkrtchian, the correspondent of the regional “Noemi” TV company
(Shirak region). In the course of the award ceremony a collection of
articles “Armenia -Turkey: Open Conversation”, published by the Center of
Public Dialogue and Development.
TEAM REPORTING PROJECT OF ARMENIAN AND GEORGIAN JOURNALISTS IN
SAMTSKHE-JAVAKHETIA
On February 8-18 a group of eight representatives of Armenian and Georgian
media implemented a team reporting project on covering the lives of ethnic
and religious minorities, residing in the Samtskhe-Javakhetia region of
Georgia. The event was held by the London-based Media Diversity Institute
under its South Caucasus program “Minority Empowerment and Development of
Media”, supported by the European Commission and the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of the Netherlands.
The trainers of the team reporting project were Alistair Crighton (media
consultant, UK), Tatul Hakobian (observer of “Azg” daily, Armenia) and Tiko
Tsomaya (Caucasus School of Journalism and Media Management, Georgia). After
a trip to Samtskhe-Javakhetia Armenian and Georgian journalists will produce
a number of articles to be published as an eight-page supplement to
newspapers of the two countries. A special issue will be published in three
languages – Armenian, Georgian and English.
PRESS-SECRETARY OF THE PRESIDENT NOW AN AMBASSADOR
On February 18 by decrees of the RA President Robert Kocharian Ashot
Kocharian was discharged from the position of the press-secretary of the
head of the state and appointed the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia in India. Ashot Kocharian had been
appointed to the spokesman’s position on May 5, 2003 (see YPC Weekly
Newsletter, May 2-8, 2003).
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Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
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