From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Fri Jun 22 2001 - 09:28:25 EDT
YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
JUNE 16-22, 2001
HIGHLIGHTS:
THE MEETINGS OF ARMENIAN, AZERBAIJAN AND TURKISH JOURNALISTS TO BE HELD
ANOTHER TEXTBOOK PUBLISHED FOR YPC "JOURNALIST'S LIBRARY"
THE RESULTS OF THE CONTEST ON THE BEST SOLUTION OF KARABAGH CONFLICT
ANNOUNCED
JOURNALISTS OF CENTRAL ASIA AND SOUTH CAUCASUS DISCUSS FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND
MEDIA
THE MEETINGS OF ARMENIAN, AZERBAIJAN AND TURKISH JOURNALISTS TO BE HELD
On June 20-26 in Azerbaijan and Turkey two first "round table" meetings
organized by Yerevan Press Club and "Yeni Nesil" Journalists Union of
Azerbaijan will take place. Journalists from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey
will participate in the meetings. The journalists will undertake the
analysis of the role of media in the normalization of relationships among
these countries (see details in the nearest issues of YPC Weekly Electronic
Newsletter). The third final meeting will be held in a month or two in
Armenia.
The project is being implemented with the support of Open Society Institute
Network Media Program.
ANOTHER TEXTBOOK PUBLISHED FOR YPC "JOURNALIST'S LIBRARY"
On June 19 a new specialized two-volume journalism manual was published by
Yerevan Press Club in the "Journalist's Library" series
(http://www.ypc.am/English/Studies/chouse.htm). The book, "Newspaper
Practice" by German author Werner Meyer, was translated into Armenian. The
publication of the book was supported by Open Society Institute Assistance
Foundation-Armenia.
The two-volume "Newspaper Practice" that presents the creative, technical,
organizational basics of print media is intended for both students of
journalism and practicing professionals and publishers.
THE RESULTS OF THE CONTEST ON THE BEST SOLUTION OF KARABAGH CONFLICT
ANNOUNCED
As it has already been reported, at the end of May the on-line daily
"GazetaSNG.Ru" (www.gazetasng.ru) announced for its readers a special
competition of most original and professionally developed proposals on
Karabagh conflict settlement (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, May 26 -
June 1, 2001).
The results of the special project "Karabagh Conflict Resolution" were
publicized, as it had previously been expected, on June 15. According to the
Editorial of "GazetaSNG.Ru" (the Chief Editor of the on-line daily is Arman
Jilavian), the winner of the competition is the 57-year-old resident of Baku
Rza Safarov, an electromechanics engineer, presently the Deputy Head of the
Maintenance Department of the Azerbaijan President Office. The proposal of
Safarov specifies "a partial change in the territories of Armenia and
Azerbaijan, with the borders of each country with its neighbors retained:
Armenia and Iran, Azerbaijan and Turkey". This idea, as Safarov thinks, may
be realized through drilling tunnel (underground) corridors in the
directions of Azerbaijan-Armenia-Nakhichevan and
Armenia-Azerbaijan-Mountainous Karabagh.
The Encouragement Prize was awarded to an international news writer Grigor
Apoyan, born in Yerevan and currently residing in Los Angeles. According to
Apoyan's proposal, "the solution is to be sought in broader context. Every
state that has claims for a particular piece of land appeals mostly not to
historical reminiscences but emphasizes the fact that it can best contribute
to the security and prosperity of all its citizens". Apoyan, in particular,
suggests that Armenia and Azerbaijan should "start a competition on
establishing true democratic states. Mountainous Karabagh is to become a
prize in this competition, and it will be awarded to the one who can prove
that its people live happily and freely".
Diplomas of Honor were awarded to Aram Sargsian (Democratic Party of
Armenia), Igbal Agazadeh (Party of Civil Unity of Azerbaijan), Alexander
Manasian (Fund Against the Violation of Law, Armenia), as well as Hafiza
Nazerli and Emil Mejidov (Azerbaijan).
JOURNALISTS OF CENTRAL ASIA AND SOUTH CAUCASUS DISCUSS FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND
MEDIA
On June 12-13 Alma-Ata, the capital of Kazakhstan, hosted the International
Conference "Freedom of Speech and Media in the Countries of Central Asia and
South Caucasus", organized by Internews Kazakhstan NGO with the assistance
of Friedrich Ebert Foundation and Soros Kazakhstan Fund. The Conference gave
floor to journalists, media leaders, lawyers, representatives of NGOs, human
rights organizations, professional associations, state structures of
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and
Uzbekistan. The presentations of the representatives of the seven countries
of the region were devoted to the national legislations on media, the work
of journalists under modern conditions, their legal protection, and the role
of journalistic associations.
On the last working day of the Conference the participants adopted a joint
Address to the Parliaments, Presidents and Governments of their countries,
calling upon them "to ensure free and equal political and economic
conditions for the development of journalism and media business", "establish
a civilized dialog and honest cooperation of authorities and media". The
Address, in particular, expressed serious concern over the persecution of
independent media, acts of violence towards journalists, the strengthening
practice of political and financial control over media on the part of the
authorities, the tendency of establishing media and professional
associations that are subordinated to the state. Special attention was given
to the necessity of ensuring free access to information on the Internet. "We
are sure that the authorities must take practical steps to ensure normal
conditions for the democratic development of the media. Media must develop
and be free not because it is of personal benefit to someone, but because it
is of benefit to the whole society and citizens of our countries", the
Address concludes.
When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.
You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
pressclub@ypc.am
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____________________________________________
Yerevan Press Club
39/12 Mesrop Mashtots Avenue
375009, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 3741) 53 00 67; 53 35 41
Fax: (+3741) 151 685; 53 76 62
E-mail: pressclub@ypc.am
Web Site: www.ypc.am
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