GEORGIA: TAMING OF A REVOLUTIONARY STATION

A1+
[03:45 pm] 09 December, 2006

Rustavi-2 television loses its fearless reputation.

The television station that was at the forefront of Georgia’s Rose
Revolution has lost audiences and its reputation for political
investigation, amidst accusations of pressure from the new authorities.

During the peaceful demonstrations against the government of former
president Eduard Shevardnadze of November 2003, the programmes of
Rustavi-2 were broadcast to crowds in the centre of Tbilisi on a huge
screen. As the revolution gathered momentum, Rustavi-2 worked round
the clock, urging people to join the rallies.

However, just a few months after the Shevardnadze administration fell
and Mikheil Saakashvili was elected president of Georgia, the media
climate began to change. Two television channels – Iberia and Ninth
Channel – were taken off the air, and the popular political talk
shows broadcast by Rustavi-2 and other companies began disappearing.

The official rationale for the closure of the two channels was
their own financial problems, while the ending of the talk shows was
explained as an internal management decision. However, the opposition
started accusing the new government of putting pressure on the media
and violating freedom of speech.

Rustavi-2, which had helped bring the new government to power, began
experiencing problems too. First the company was declared bankrupt
and the majority of its shares sold to a little-known businessmen
Kibar Khalvashi, who was a close associate of then minister of defence
Irakly Okruashvili. Two weeks ago, the day after Okruashvili resigned
as defence minister, Khalvashi again sold his controlling stake in
the company.

For viewers, the most important change has been in the content of
Rustavi-2’s news programmes. The news programme Courier has lost the
reputation for boldness, which made it so popular.

"Rustavi-2 broadcasts only the latest news from the interior ministry
or the president’s briefings, there’s nothing interesting to watch,"
Marina, 49, told IWPR.

Ia Antadze, a commentator with Radio Liberty, said the changes at
Rustavi-2 were directly linked to the balance of political forces
in the Georgian government, with two camps linked respectively to
Okruashvili and Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili.

She said Merabishvili had control over the Alania and Mze television
companies and influence over public television, while Rustavi-2 and
Imedi were associated with Okruashvili.

After the Rose Revolution, Rustavi-2 broadly continued to support the
new government. David Kikalishvili, presenter of the news programme
Courier P.S., explained, "After the revolution, the journalists
regarded themselves as revolutionaries, and, proceeding from interests
of the revolution, they agreed with the owner’s position that the
political temperature should be lowered."

The staff protested for the first time three months ago when the
authorities demanded the resignation of general director Nika
Tabatadze. The news section held a strike that lasted for several
hours. A crisis meeting was called, which staff say was attended by
Okruashvili and Gigi Ugulava, mayor of Tbilisi – although no one has
confirmed this in public.

The news team all then quit the company, but without making any
comment.

"They said nothing, because they had nothing to say," said Paata
Veshapidze, editor of 24 Hours newspaper, pointing out that they had
put up with the major changes at the station unquestioningly and it
was hard for them suddenly to take a determined stand.

However, one leading journalist, Eka Khoperia, announced live on
television that she was quitting because of "unacceptable demands from
certain representatives of the authorities", whom she did not name.

Following the mass resignations, Koba Davarashvili, a close friend of
Economics Minister Giorgy Arveladze, was appointed general director of
the company, and a former head of the press service of the governing
party, the National Movement, was put in charge of the news section.

But ratings have dropped dramatically. The Courier news programme
used to have an audience share of 50-60 per cent, but now only gets
between six and 11 per cent of the audience.

"The authorities are well aware of the power the television has,"
said Paata Veshapidze. "They do not want to have such a powerful bomb
that may explode at any moment."

The latest audience figures show that Rustavi-2 now lags behind Imedi,
a television company owned by businessman Badri Patarkatsishvili,
who is an associate of former Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky.

In August, Imedi signed a partnership agreement with Rupert Murdoch’s
media giant News Corporation.

Before the local elections in October, Imedi’s news programmes took
a critical line with the government and government figures boycotted
the channel’s political talk show Reaction for several months.

In its turn, the opposition has shunned Rustavi-2, saying the channel
has turned into a "branch of the government".

Experts say that the media is less independent and critical of the
government than it used to be and that is harder to obtain information
from official sources.

But, said television critic Ninia Kakabadze, "there are not enough
factual arguments to say that the authorities are directly putting
pressure on the media.

"To any question why this or that journalist has been sacked or why
this or that programme has been shut down the authorities give one
simple answer – we have nothing to do with this, this is what the
management has decided. That is why the main question is, who the
management is, how they take decisions and who influences them."

"Independent reporting is hampered by journalists’ self-censorship,"
said Tamara Shamil, a media expert with the Caucasian Institute of
Peace, Democracy and Development in Tbilisi. "Most of them are waiting
to see how their new masters will react."

By Eka Kvesitadze in Tbilisi for Institute for War and Peace
Reporting’s Caucasus Reporting Service

AZERBAIJAN: PROBING CHANNEL PULLED OFF THE AIR

A1+
[03:49 pm] 09 December, 2006

Dramatic shutdown of popular TV station seen as blow to freedom of
speech. Azerbaijan’s most popular and longest-running independent
television channel, ANS, was unexpectedly closed on November 24,
the culmination of a bitter dispute with the government.

The decision was taken that morning by the national television and
radio broadcasting council. Council chairman Nushiravan Magerramli,
said the channel’s license was not being extended and called on it
to stop broadcasting within three hours.

The ANS management was not given written notification of the
council’s decision, but at precisely three o’clock, operatives
from the communications ministry, accompanied by policemen, broke
into the company’s headquarters and switched off and sealed all its
transmitters.

The council said that ANS had repeatedly received warnings for breaking
broadcasting regulations. For the past few years, the company had
been broadcasting without a license, because of an ongoing dispute
with the government. ANS said it had repeatedly applied for a new
license but had been refused.

Mekhti Mamedov, assistant to the chairman of the council, told IWPR,
"Since the council was created in the spring of 2005, ANS was given
nine warnings, and on two occasions it was fined. That is why the
decision to revoke its license is absolutely justified." Mamedov said
ANS had failed to observe advertising regulations and opened a branch
in the town of Sheki without permission.

ANS general director Fuad Jabbarly told IWPR that the channel had
received only five written warnings from the council and reacted in
a proper way to all of them. "I have no idea where the figure nine
comes from," he said. "It’s true that we were fined twice and paid
the penalties on time. Until recently, the council never approached
us with any complaints."

ANS started broadcasting in November 1991 and is, according its
president Vahid Mustafaiev, the first private and independent
television channel in the former Soviet Union. It won a reputation
for its frontline reporting from the Nagorny Karabakh conflict – and
has maintained an aggressive stance on the Karabakh issue to this day.

The channel also won popularity for its news reporting, which was more
independent than the official television channels, and for programmes
such as "Internal News", where ordinary citizens were allowed to ask
questions of government officials.

A grand concert had been scheduled for November 26 to mark the
channel’s fifteenth birthday, however the administration of the
Heidar Aliev Concert Palace, where the event was due to be held,
cancelled the party, citing the need to make essential repairs.

Rashid Gajily, an expert on media and director of the Institute of Law,
said the council had exceeded its authority by issuing the decision
to close down ANS.

"The council does indeed have the authority to issue and extend
licenses or not to extend them," he said.

"But it is up to a court to decide on the closure of a media
outlet. There were no legal proceedings in the ANS case."

The ANS management says it intends to challenge the decision in court,
while the broadcasting council announced a tender for the station’s
frequency with a deadline of January 7.

President Ilham Aliev hinted there was room for compromise, saying,
"There are state organs and they have well-justified demands that
need to be fulfilled.

I think that the dispute with ANS can be resolved in a businesslike
manner and with good will. If all demands are met its activity can
be restored."

But presidential aide Ali Hasanov, apparently with the approval of
his boss, warned, "Even the president himself does not have the right
to interfere in the process of issuing licenses. Responsibility for
this lies with the broadcasting council."

The dramatic shutdown of the popular television channel has triggered
feverish speculation in Azerbaijan.

One interpretation is that the government was planning to make major
concessions to the Armenians in the ongoing peace talks over the
Karabakh issue and therefore wanted to take off the air a station
which strongly opposed compromise in the dispute.

"It’s true, the most convincing explanation for the closure of ANS is a
forthcoming surrender of Karabakh," said journalist Ilgar Mamedov. "As
long as ANS was on the air, it would be hard to impose on the people
a peace plan that meant defeat."

Einulla Fatullayev, a former ANS employee who is now a strong critic
and the editor-in-chief of the Realny Azerbaijan newspaper, sees
domestic politics as being at the root of the issue.

"ANS was closely tied to former economic development Farhad Aliev, who
is now accused of plotting a coup d’etat," said Fatullayev. He said
the president could not forgive the station’s perceived "treachery"
towards the government.

Most observers are inclined to see the shutdown within the context of
a general move against the independent media in Azerbaijan. Political
scientist Rasim Agayev, who was formerly a government official said,
"ANS was the only media outlet which defended me at a difficult time
when Heidar Aliev was in power and when I was arrested. I consider its
closure a blow against freedom of speech and the image of Azerbaijan
and I am ready to do everything I can to defend it."

US ambassador Ann Derse told the Turan news agency that Azerbaijan
should remember its obligations on freedom of speech under
international treaties and called on the government to reconsider
the issue.

In the meantime, ANS’s entire staff is currently on unpaid leave
and waiting to see what happens next to their channel. And millions
of viewers are deeply unhappy. "ANS stood out from the other TV
channels for being much more professional," said 37-year-old Tarlan
Babayev. "With ANS closed it feels as though the airwaves of Azerbaijan
have been orphaned."

Shahin Rzayev is IWPR’s Azerbaijan country director.

Matanat Alieva is editor-in-chief of Impuls newspaper.

By Shahin Rzayev and Matanat Alieva in Baku for Institute for War
and Peace Reporting’s Caucasus Reporting Service

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OMBUDSMAN OF ARMENIA ASSESSED ACTIVITY OF YEREVAN MUNICIPALITY NEGATIVE

Yerevan, December 9. ArmInfo. During the past three months the
Armenian Ombudsman’s Office has received 714 complaints, 304 of them
in the written form. 33 applications were collective – with 1612
citizens’ signatures. On the whole, positive judgement was passed
on 34 applications, Ombudsman of Armenia Armen Harutyunyan said at
today’s press-conference.

A.Harutyunyan noted that most of the claims concerned the activity
of judicial bodies (39), the Municipality of Yerevan (23), the Police
(36), the Ministry of Justice (21) and Prosecutor’s office (15). The
citizens mainly complained about infringement of their rights to
legal protection (96), to satisfactory conditions of life (63), to
timely answer from state bodies, as well as infringement of their
social security and property rights. According to the statistics,
189 people who appealed to the Ombudsman’s Office were from Yerevan,
38 from Shirak, 16 from Lori, 14 from Kotayk and 10 from Gegharkunik.

A.Harutyunyan assessed the work of the Yerevan Municipality negative.

It doesn’t pay proper attention to the complaints of the citizens
and fails to cooperate with the Yerevan office of human rights. He
emphasized that the Municipality prefers to give formal answers without
taking specific steps for constructive settlement of vexed situations,
even after the court adjudges in favor of the aggrieved party. So,
about 90% of judicial decisions are not carried out.

THE CASE OF MURDER OF THE 15-YEAR-OLD CITIZEN OF ARMENIA DISCLOSED

ArmRadio.am
09.12.2006 11:52

The Prosecutor’s Office of the Moscow Municipal Area has disclosed
the case of murder of the 15-year-old citizen of Armenia. "The case
has really been disclosed. Four young citizens of Ivanteeka have been
arrested," Press Service of the Prosecutor’s Office of the Moscow
Municipal Area told RIA Novosti. The detainees are university and
college students.

Narek Kocharyan was killed on November 11, 2006 on the railway platform
of Ivanteevka city. A criminal case was launched in compliance with
part 4 of the Article 111 of the Russian Criminal Code.

"STATE OF THE ARMENIAN CULTURAL LEGACY IN NAKHIJEVAN" EXHIBITION OPENED IN STRASBURG

ArmRadio.am
09.12.2006 12:15

RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian had a meeting with the Deputy Mayor
of Strasburg, head of the municipal community Rober Grossman. The
meeting was followed by the opening of the "State of the Armenian
cultural legacy in Nakhijevan" exhibition in the Hall of the Strasburg
Municipality, during which the Foreign Minister delivered a speech.

"This exhibition does not only prove the presence of Armenia in
this region, but also denies the policy of periodic demolition of
centuries old Armenian monuments belonging to whole humanity," said
Vartan Oskanian. He underlined that this state vandalism has caused
the negative reaction of the international community, particularly
the European Parliament. "But Azerbaijani authorities are deaf to
calls to end the destruction and continue prohibiting international
experts and parliamentarians visit the sites," the Armenian Foreign
Minister stressed.

SINGER SILVA OF ARMENIA WINS NEXT BIG THING

ArmRadio.am
09.12.2006 14:44

Armenian singer Silva has won the BBC World Service’s Next Big Thing
competition with her song I Like.

The 17-year-old was chosen ahead of six other acts from around the
world at the final, held in the BBC’s Maida Vale studios in London.

The judges praised I Like, which was composed by the singer’s brother,
as "fresh and new" and described her performance as "second to none."

"It’s terrific, it’s unbelievable to be in first place," she said.

She added the comments from the judges – producer William Orbit
described her as "fabulous" – meant she felt confident she could
"make the step up to international level."

Second place in the competition was split between Malawian rapper
NiC and London duo Stefan and Mya.

Stefan and Mya’s song My Dunks – a rock-rap track about
a trainer-obsessed fashion victim and his bitter rows with his
girlfriend – was described by Jeff Travis – founder of UK indie label
Rough Trade – as part of "a great tradition in rock ‘n’ roll."

NiC’s Take A Look Into My Eyes – an anti-materialistic rap song about
the difficulties of getting into the music industry in Africa – was
lauded by the judges for its lyrical content and use of a Greek sample.

Meanwhile, third place went to Brazilian collective Sweet Cherry Fury
for their song Cold Blonde Body.

The other finalists included British rock group Skagz, American outfit
MLK and the Dreamers, and Ghanaian singer Mishkini, who performed
his song in three different languages.

The competition, part of the BBC’s Generation Next season, was aimed
exclusively at acts aged under 18.

The final seven had been selected by a panel of music journalists and
experts from a group of 20 acts – who themselves had been pooled from
all the entries submitted via the BBC’s website.

The judges for the final included legendary producer William Orbit,
Rough Trade founder Jeff Travis, African star Angelique Kidjo and
Dirty Pretty Things drummer Gary Powell.

WORKING VISIT OF FIRST LADY OF AZERBAIJAN TO USA ENDS

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Dec 9 2006

In the frame of her visit to the United States, First Lady of
Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva has met Mr. Karen Hughes, the Under
Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy. Mehriban Khanum updated
on the projects being realized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation she
leads, in the humanitarian sphere, emphasizing that by the coming
of oil profits, the country develops the fields of education, health
and culture. Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, she noted that the Foundation she supervises persistently
takes care of the children deprived of parents as a result of this
conflict.

Mr. Karen Hughes, highly estimating the work done by the Heydar Aliyev
Foundation, underlined that this work is of vast importance for future
of Azerbaijan. The USA Undersecretary of State said Azerbaijan is
an example country from the point of view of respect for religious
minorities. She took interest in the conference on the subject of the
"Role of mass media in propaganda of tolerance" to be organized by
the Organization of Islamic Conference in Baku in 2007.

Noting the importance of this Conference for the country, Mrs. Mehriban
Aliyeva invited Karen Hughes to take part at this event.

Mehriban Aliyeva also met the Under Secretary of State for Global
Affairs Paul Dobrianski. In meeting, discussed were the issues of
cooperation between two countries, aimed at counter-action against
common threats, in particular, prevention of "bird flu". Paul
Dobrianski expressed readiness of his country to render to Azerbaijan
all-round assistance in this cause. Noting that there are joint
US-Azerbaijan working groups on economic issues and the question of
security, Paul Dobrianski stressed necessity of conducting discussions
also on the questions of democracy and human rights. At his words,
Azerbaijan as a modern secular state could play the role of bridge
between the West and Islamic world.

Noting existence of full religious and ethnic tolerance in Azerbaijan,
Mehriban Aliyeva said that she, as a UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill
Ambassador, is open to all suggestions in this field.

In meeting, the First Lady of Azerbaijan spoke of the processes ongoing
for further improvement of democratic institutions in the country.

Mehriban Aliyeva’s visit to the United States ended.

CHAIRMAN OF AZERBAIJAN DEMOCRATIC REFORMS PARTY GAVE A SPEECH IN HUDSON INSTITUTE AND HELD MEETINGS IN PENTAGON
Author: S. Ilhamgizi

TREND, Azerbaijan
Dec 9 2006

MP Asim Molazadeh, Chairman of the Democratic Reforms Party of
Azerbaijan has participated in an arrangement organized by the
US-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce within his visit to U.S.A., the
press-service of the Party told Trend.

He gave a speech in the Hudson Institute on the topic – "The Role of
GUAM in the Stability, Economic Development, and Democratic Reforms
in the Region". Representatives of a number of American research
centres and foreign embassies took part in the event as well
Mr. Mollazadeh held meetings in the Pentagon. During the meeting with
employees of the Eurasian Command of the US Defence Ministry, relations
between US and Azerbaijan, as well as issues on resolving regional
conflicts, GUAM, and the regional security issues were discussed.

The aim of the visit is to develop relations between US and Azerbaijan,
discuss the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well
as corresponding American projects for Azerbaijan.

REPORTS OF PACE CO-RAPPORTEURS FOR AZERBAIJAN WILL BE HEARD IN PARIS
Author: A.Ismaylova

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Dec 9 2006

The Head of the Azerbaijani Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe (PACE), Samad Seyidov, exclusively informed
Trend that the next meeting of the PACE Committee on Honoring of
Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe
will take place in Paris on December 13. The meeting will also focus
on the questions regarding Armenia and Azerbaijan.

He said that the reports which will take common character, will be
included in the agenda of the PACE winter session. The co-rapporteurs
of the PACE Monitoring Committee Andreas Herkel and Toni Lloyd will
make speeches over Azerbaijan. The representatives of the Azerbaijani
delegation to PACE will also attend the meeting.

The winter session of the PACE will take place on January 22-26, 2007.

BBC SHOWS BEST TEEN BEATS
By Ben Sutherland

BBC News, UK
Dec 9 2006

Silva (centre right) ran out top choice for the judges Fans of TV
talent shows would have been familiar with the format – an act
performs, the judges debate the merits of that performance, the
presenter asks them how they feel – and ultimately, one of them is
awarded the winner.

But the final of The Next Big Thing – the BBC’s global search for
the best young musical talent – was different in a couple of ways.

Firstly, all the acts were aged under 18. Secondly, they were all
really rather good.

In this case, selecting the eventual winner would be legendary
producer William Orbit, Rough Trade founder Jeff Travis, African
star Angelique Kidjo and Dirty Pretty Things drummer Gary Powell,
with former Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel also giving his input.

And so to the acts. Brazilian six-piece combo Sweet Cherry Fury began
the night with their jaunty, raucous take on boredom in exams, Cold
Blonde Body.

Having flown 20 hours from Sao Paulo – and lost their luggage en
route – they were determined not to let a minor technical hitch that
had delayed the start of the gig put them off.

Lyrical flow

Impressively, performing live at the BBC’s famous Maida Vale studios
in front of industry icons seemed to inspire them rather than make
them nervous – something, on the most part, in common with all the
performers on the night.

They threw themselves into their songs with both intensity and
passion. As Vardy, the lead singer of British three-piece rock group
Skagz put it, "we’re having the time our lives."

Pictures from the final There was an intense performance from Malawian
rap act NiC, a duo who volleyed words back and forth like Sampras and
Ivanisevic in their prime, deciding not to bother with those fancy
passing shots and just belting the ball at each other.

Their angry – if interestingly anti-materialistic – rap stems from
their frustration at attempting to break into the music industry
in Africa. Judge Gary Powell was particularly impressed by what he
described as their "lyrical flow", saying they could be understood
better "than acts in the charts earning millions".

NiC would eventually finish second, a place shared with British duo
Stefan and Mya – whose much more light-hearted song, My Dunks, is
about a fashion victim and his girlfriend, who feels she is always
second-best to her man’s trainers.

Their bickering couple style drew high praise from the judges. "I’d say
you’re like Lily Allen, but you’re much better than that," said Powell.

But everyone brought something different to the final, despite –
or perhaps because of – their widely diverse backgrounds, sounds,
and themes.

Refugee Malikinke delivered a multi-language plea to African men to
think before they sleep around; US multi-member group MLK performed
an eight-word, two-minute celebration of Martin Luther King; while
the Skagz thrashed out their up-tempo rock song about singer Vardy
"getting attacked in the mining village of Whitwell".

Winner

As soon as she stepped behind the microphone, however, the star
quality of the act who go on to win shone through.

Armenian performer Silva not only sang, she also really performed,
coupling her smooth vocal with some well-honed dance moves.

The 17-year-old’s tango-based song I Like – written by her sister and
produced by her brother – would not have sounded out of place on any
hit-centred radio station.

There was genuine camaraderie between the acts But, with a little
polish, the same could have been said for most of the other acts
too. None were noticeably weak – a benefit, perhaps, of having a
panel of music industry experts give their input into choosing the
final seven.

The four judges admitted they had expected the standard to be "much
lower", and were visibly impressed.

As they deliberated and the groups awaited the result, the genuine
camaraderie that had grown between the acts – they had stayed together
in the same hotel since arriving in London earlier in the week,
and cheered each others’ performances – was clear to see.

They all stood huddled together, nervously chatting to each other,
offering congratulatory handshakes and hugs whenever one of them was
mentioned by name by the judges.

When the result was announced, the cheers and applause were such
that any one of them could have been cheering their own win as much
as Silva’s.

Silva herself was utterly overwhelmed by the experience, and accepted
the trophy with tears in her eyes.

Asked if she was happy to have won, she could manage only one word:
"Yes."