OSCE Workshop Promotes Co-Operation Between State Press Services And

OSCE WORKSHOP PROMOTES CO-OPERATION BETWEEN STATE PRESS SERVICES AND JOURNALISTS IN ARMENIA

armradio.am
27.10.2008 15:11

Helping press officers working for state agencies and journalists to
improve their interaction is the purpose of a two-day OSCE training
workshop launched today in Yerevan.

Around 40 participants from press and public relations offices and
media will discuss legal and ethical aspects of access to information
and learn about European practices in this field. International
and local experts will deliver the training, organized by the OSCE
Representative on Freedom of the Media and the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

"We want to encourage professional dialogue between Armenian state
authorities and journalists to enable the media to convey information
on matters of public interest. This will enable citizens to participate
more in decision-making processes," said Alexander Boldyrev, the
Senior Adviser to the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media.

Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, added:
"Free access to government-held information is crucial to promote
good governance and transparency."

The workshop follows the project implemented by the OSCE Office jointly
with the Armenian Civil Service Council and Freedom of Information
Centre NGO this year. Sponsored by the Italian Government, it resulted
in the adoption of a freedom of information training programme as
a part of the permanent training curriculum for governmental press
officers. About 80 Armenian governmental press officers have already
been trained under the project.