YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
OCTOBER 15-21, 2004
HIGHLIGHTS:
SECOND “PRESS CLUB” SHOW
DIRECTOR OF “AR” DOES NOT CONFIRM RUMORS ABOUT THE CHANGE OF TV CHANNEL
OWNER
RADIO LIBERTY CALLED ON THE AUTHORITIES TO INVESTIGATE THE MATTER
SECOND “PRESS CLUB” SHOW
On October 18 on the evening air of the Second Armenian TV Channel the
second show of “Press Club” cycle was broadcast. The cycle is organized by
Yerevan Press Club under “Strengthening Democracy by Free Expression in
South Caucasus” project, implemented jointly with “Article 19” international
organization with the assistance of Open Society Institute.
This time the focus of attention of the heads of the leading media and
journalistic associations of the country was on the recent abuse of the
rights of journalists and media, related to attacks on the representatives
of “the fourth estate” on professional duty. The subject of discussion
referred, in particular, to the incidents of violence against journalists
covering the opposition rallies in Yerevan on April 5 and the night of April
12-13, the attack the correspondents of “Photolure” news agency and “Aravot”
daily on August 24 in Tsaghkadzor as well as the assault on the Chief Editor
of “Syunyats Yerkir” regional newspaper on October 13 in Kapan. The second
subject raised was to the hotly debated event – the official registration of
“Jehovah’s Witnesses” religious organization in Armenia on October 8.
DIRECTOR OF “AR” DOES NOT CONFIRM RUMORS ABOUT THE CHANGE OF TV CHANNEL
OWNER
Since October 16 “AR” TV company stopped its broadcasts. As YPC was told by
the Director of “AR” Edgar Manukian, the pause is due to the need for
technical re-equipment of the channel, and the broadcasting will be resumed
in about a month. Edgar Manukian denied the persistent rumors that the
suspension of “AR” activities is related to the forthcoming sale of the
channel to the well-known businessman, the President of “Mika” company
Mikhail Baghdasarov. As it has been reported, in late 2002 the TV company
was acquired by another, equally well-known entrepreneur Hrant Vardanian,
the President of “Grand Holding” company and the owner of another TV
company, “Hayrenik TV”.
RADIO LIBERTY CALLED ON THE AUTHORITIES TO INVESTIGATE THE MATTER
On October 15 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty issued a press release on the
withdrawal “Azatutiun” (“Liberty”) program produced by the RFE/RL Armenian
Service from the air schedule of “Kentron” TV company. According to the
Director of the Radio Liberty Armenian Service Hrair Tamrazian, the first
issue of this 30-minute analytical program was aired on October 10 and
repeated on October 11. On October 13 the Director of “Kentron” Petros
Ghazarian informed Mr. Tamrazian, that the airing of the subsequent issues
of the program would be “indefinitely suspended”. As it is noted in the
press release the management of the TV company did not explain the reasons
for such a decision.
The first issue of “Azatutiun” featured a report from Strasbourg on the
debates at October session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe on the honoring of commitments to the CE by Armenia and exclusive
interviews of the RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian and the newly
appointed US Ambassador in Armenia John Evans on relations between Armenia
and Turkey.
Mr. Tamrazian expressed his concern over the suspension of “a very
successful TV show” “for unknown reasons” and called on Armenian authorities
to investigate into the matter. “I hope that “Kentron” and RFE/RL will
continue in a joint project that was eagerly awaited by many viewers and
listeners in Armenia”, the head of the Radio Liberty Armenian Service
stressed.
On his behalf, the Director of “Kentron” Petros Ghazarian told YPC that he
“sees no conflict in what has happened, the TV company and the Radio Liberty
Armenian Service remain partners”, however, there are certain financial
problems that call for a solution.
On October 19 the President of RFE/RL Thomas Dine addressed a letter to the
President of Armenia Robert Kocharian, in which he urged the head of the
state “to denounce this contemptible Soviet-style act, and to help return
“Azatutiun” on air”. Thomas Dine asserted that he is “determined to get
“Azatutiun” back on air and will make every effort to make it happen –
including raising the issue with the Bush Administration, the US Congress,
the Council of Europe and non-governmental organizations worldwide”.
The Radio Liberty press release with this letter also states that despite
the lack of explanations on behalf of the “Kentron” administration, there
are all reasons to suppose that the TV company “was pressured to suspend
further broadcasts of the program, either by official interests or local
media competitors”.
It should be noted that this was not the first attempt of the Radio Liberty
Armenian Service to go on air in Armenian capital. On September 28, 2004 a
program prepared by the radio company was aired by “Shant” TV company.
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
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375007, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 1) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 1) 53 56 61
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