YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
NOVEMBER 28 – DECEMBER 4, 2008
HIGHLIGHTS:
"PRESS-CLUB" AND "PRESS-CLUB+": ELECTORAL SYSTEM AND FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE
OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT BODIES
EXECUTIVE EDITOR OF "ZHAMANAK-YEREVAN" IS CHARGED ON INSULT
CONFERENCE "THE ROLE OF REGIONAL MEDIA IN PROTECTION OF PUBLIC INTERESTS"
MEDIA COMPETITION "A COUPLE OF WORDS ABOUT WOMEN" IS ANNOUNCED
"PRESS-CLUB" AND "PRESS-CLUB+": ELECTORAL SYSTEM AND FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE
OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT BODIES
On December 3 another "Press Club" TV show went on the air of "Yerkir Media"
TV company. The cycle is produced by Yerevan Press Club with the support of
the Human Rights and Governance Grants Program of the Open Society
Institute. The guests of the "Press Club" host, the President of Yerevan
Press Club Boris Navasardian, were Vice-Chairman of the RA National Assembly
Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs Rafik
Petrosian, Vice-Chairman of "Democracy" NGO Hrair Tovmasian, and
Presidential candidate of 2008 elections in Armenia Arman Melikian. The
discussion subject was the electoral system in Armenia and its conformity to
the international standards.
The next "Press Club" cycle program will be aired by "Yerkir Media" on
Wednesday, December 10, at 23.00.
On November 29 "Yerkir Media" aired another program of "Press Club+" cycle,
produced by Yerevan Press Club with the support of the UK Embassy in
Armenia. The Chairman of the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression
Ashot Melikian and the participants of the talk show, the Chairman of the RA
National Assembly Standing Committee on Territorial Management and Local
Self-Government Hovhannes Margarian and Vice-President of the Association of
Community Financiers David Tumanian discussed the issue of financial
independence of local self-government bodies. The talk show also gave floor
to the audience, composed of media representatives of Armavir and Kotayk
regions.
The next "Press Club+" show will go on the air of "Yerkir Media" on
Saturday, December 6, at 17.40.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR OF "ZHAMANAK-YEREVAN" IS CHARGED ON INSULT
On December 2 Police Department of Kentron community charged the recently
appointed Executive Editor of "Zhamanak-Yerevan" daily, member of Political
Council and the spokesperson of "Republic" party Suren Sureniants on Article
136 of RA Criminal Code ("Insult"). As Suren Sureniants told YPC with a
reference to the police representative, the criminal proceedings against him
were instituted in August 2008 by the complaint of the establisher of
"National Idea" magazine Artem Khachatrian. According to Suren Sureniants,
in July 2008 Artem Khachatrian published an article in the above-mentioned
magazine, in which he spoke disrespectfully about the national hero, late RA
Prime-Minister Vazgen Sargsian. Artem Khachatrian’s expressions brought on
comments of a number of political figures and media. As Executive Editor of
"Zhamanak-Yerevan" daily stated, his opinion regarding the personality of
Artem Khachatrian was published in "Iravunk de facto" newspaper on August
11, 2008, and this particular publication constituted a ground for
instituting the criminal proceedings. Suren Sureniants also informed that in
the nearest time the police are going to take the criminal case to the
court. In the opinion of Suren Sureniants, the accusation presented is not
related to the activities of "Zhamanak-Yerevan", but it is remarkable that
it coincided with his appointment to the position of Executive Editor. As it
has been reported, the establisher and Chief Editor of "Zhamanak-Yerevan"
oppositional newspaper Arman Babajanian has been serving his sentence for
document fraud to evade military service for already three years (see YPC
Weekly Newsletter, November 14-19, 2008).
CONFERENCE "THE ROLE OF REGIONAL MEDIA IN PROTECTION OF PUBLIC INTERESTS"
On November 28-29 a conference "The Role of Regional Media in Protection of
Public Interests" took place in "Congress" hotel in Yerevan. The event was
organized by the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression under the
project "Advocacy through Empowering Journalistic Organizations and Regional
Media", supported by the Open Society Institute Assistance
Foundation-Armenia and the Netherlands Government. During the conference the
results of monitoring of regional media of Armavir, Gegharkunik, Lori,
Syunik, Tavush, Shirak regions were presented, as well as the results of
public opinion survey on informational needs of the regional media audience
and possibilities to meet the demand. The subject of another report was the
situation with freedom of expression and violation of rights of journalists
and media in Armenia in 2008.
MEDIA COMPETITION "A COUPLE OF WORDS ABOUT WOMEN" IS ANNOUNCED
British Council Armenia and the OSCE Office in Yerevan announce an annual
media competition entitled "A couple of words about women". Materials in any
of journalistic genres must have been published or broadcasted within the
period from January to December 2008 and covered the activities and
achievements of women in political, economic and social spheres. Prizes will
be awarded in 6 categories: TV program, newspaper article, radio program,
online article, social advertisement, commercial advertisement. Applications
must be submitted until December 31, 2008.
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.
0002, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
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