YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
NOVEMBER 6-12, 2009
HIGHLIGHTS:
"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: "EASTERN PARTNERSHIP" AND CIVIL SOCIETY
PUBLICATION OF "CHORRORD ISHKHANUTIUN" BANNED
"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: "EASTERN PARTNERSHIP" AND CIVIL SOCIETY
On November 10, another "Press Club" show went on the air of "Yerkir Media"
TV company. The cycle is produced under Yerevan Press Club project,
supported by the Open Society Institute. The guests of the program host, YPC
President Boris Navasardian were Hovhannes Hovhannisian, member of Public
Council of Armenia, Associate Professor of Yerevan State University,
candidate of philosophic sciences, and Avetik Ishkhanian, Chairman of the
Armenian Helsinki Committee. The discussion centered on the EU’s "Eastern
Partnership" programme and the role of NGOs in the democratic reforms of
Armenia.
The next "Press Club" show will be aired on "Yerkir Media" on November 17,
at 21.15.
PUBLICATION OF "CHORRORD ISHKHANUTIUN" BANNED
On November 5 court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash
communities of Yerevan continued the hearings on the suit of "Gind" printing
house versus "Chorrord Ishkhanutiun" newspaper founder, "Ogostos" LLC. As it
has been reported, during the litigations, started on October 19, the
plaintiff demanded to oblige "Ogostos" to pay off the debt for printing
costs in the amount of 2 million AMD (about $ 5,200). According to Shogher
Matevosian, Chief Editor of "Chorrord Ishkhanutiun", the newspaper founder
is not indebted to the printing house, all the expenses are covered on the
ground of the contract, and since September 2009, after the conflict arose
with "Gind", the newspaper is being issued at "Mer Tparan" printing house
(see YPC Weekly Newsletter, October 16-22, 2009).
At the session of November 5 the court secured the plaintiff’s petition and
restricted the newspaper’s publisher, "Trespassers W." LLC (involved in the
case as third party), as well as other companies, to publish "Chorrord
Ishkhanutiun" in one of the printing houses. As newspaper Head Shogher
Matevosian informed YPC, the representatives of the RA Service of Compulsory
Execution of Court Acts – for implementing the court decision – have
notified the printing houses, including "Mer Tparan", about the imposed ban.
On November 10 eight journalistic and human rights organizations, including
Yerevan Press Club, released a statement considering the ban on the issue of
"Chorrord Ishkhanutiun" as infringement of the right on free dissemination
of information. Moreover, the decision, whatever it is stipulated by,
contradicts Article 27 of RA Constitution and Article 10 of the European
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the
statement noted. The public organizations demanded "to call off the court
decision which runs counter the democratic principles", end the persecution
of "Chorrord Ishkhanutiun" and solve the problem on a purely financial
pattern.
Meanwhile, since November 10 the publisher and the editorial office of
"Chorrord Ishkhanutiun" ("Fourth Power") started to issue a new newspaper,
"Chorrord Inknishkhanutiun" ("Fourth Self-Power").
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
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Yerevan Press Club
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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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