From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Fri May 31 2002 - 10:36:58 EDT
YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
MAY 25-31, 2002
HIGHLIGHTS:
MEDIA AND POLITICS IN GERMANY
DISCUSSION SEMINAR OF THE FOUNDATION OF ASSISTANCE TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH HELD
NATIONAL COMMISSION ON TELEVISION AND RADIO DID NOT REFUSE LICENSES TO "A1+"
AND "NOYAN TAPAN" TV COMPANIES
"VAHAGN" PRIZES AWARDED
"GOLOS ARMENII" IS 10 YEARS OLD
"CIVILIZATION DIALOG" FOOTBALL CUP WON BY THE ARMENIAN ASSISTANCE FUND TEAM
MEDIA AND POLITICS IN GERMANY
On May 27 a seminar "Media and Politics in Germany" was held in Yerevan. The
seminar was organized by Friedrich Naumann Foundation in cooperation with
Yerevan Press Club. Representatives of media, journalistic associations and
NGOs of Armenia took part in the seminar. The Spokesman of the Free
Democratic Party in Berlin (previously the Head of the Office of the former
Foreign Minister, currently FDP faction leader in Bundestag Claus Kinkel)
Rolf Steltemeier spoke about self-regulation of media and its importance for
the freedom of information in Germany, the role of media in the election
campaigns in Germany, the relations of media and Parliament in Berlin.
DISCUSSION SEMINAR OF THE FOUNDATION OF ASSISTANCE TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH HELD
On May 31 in Yerevan a discussion seminar on the application of the
broadcast legislation was held. The event was organized by the recently
established Foundation of Assistance to Freedom of Speech (see YPC Weekly
Newsletter, May 11-24, 2002). In the seminar journalists, lawyers, human
rights activists, representatives of non-governmental, also journalistic
organizations, deputies to the RA National Assembly took part. In
particular, the legal aspect of the broadcast licensing competitions
announced by the National Commission on Television and Radio was analyzed.
The meeting participants discussed the incongruences between the RA Law "On
Television and Radio" and the Procedure of Holding Licensing Competitions as
approved by the National Commission.
In spite of the invitation received, no official structures, except the
press secretary of the RA Ministry of Justice, took part in the discussion.
For this reason the clash of opinion expected failed to take place.
NATIONAL COMMISSION ON TELEVISION AND RADIO DID NOT REFUSE LICENSES TO "A1+"
AND "NOYAN TAPAN" TV COMPANIES
On May 29 the answer of the National Commission on Television and Radio to
the claim of the Chairman of the Public Council on Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms Ashot Bleyan was received. Mr. Bleyan had appealed to
the court of primary jurisdiction of Center and Nork-Marash communities of
Yerevan demanding to recognize the decisions passed by National Commission
on April 2, 2002, to be incongruent with a number of Armenia and
international legal documents. The refusal of the National Commission to
grant broadcast licenses to "A1+" and "Noyan Tapan" TV companies were
qualified by Ashot Bleyan as a violation of the inseparable right of the
plaintiff to the freedom of speech, belief and information (see YPC Weekly
Newsletter, May 11-24, 2002).
It is noted in the response of the National Commission that it had never
passed decisions of refusing broadcast licenses to "A1+" and "Noyan Tapan"
and, therefore, the demand by the applicant is ungrounded.
The hearings on the case will soon be appointed.
"VAHAGN" PRIZES AWARDED
On May 25 at "Sayat-Nova" III Pan-Armenian Song Festival in Yerevan "Vahagn"
prizes were awarded for the first time. The organizers of the annual (since
2000) Armenian song festival are the well-known American philanthropists
Vahagn and Hasmik Hovnanians. Yet, this time "Hasmik and Vahagn Hovnanians"
Benevolent Fund announced in autumn 2001 about the establishment of a new
"Vahagn" annual prize. The prizes are awarded for the accomplishments of the
last decade in the spheres of cinema, theater, fine arts, literature as well
as for the best journalistic investigation of the past year.
The awardees in the nomination "for the best journalistic investigation"
received monetary prizes ($1500 each). The winners were named to be:
Producer Harutyun Mansurian - for the TV films "In the Name of Republic of
Armenia" and "Drug Addiction" of "Khndir" cycle produced by Internews
Armenia;
Journalist Khachatur Dadamian - for the article "The Armenian Oil of Baku",
published in "Azg" daily;
The creative group of the "Investigation: Details" supplement of "Iravunk"
newspaper.
"GOLOS ARMENII" IS 10 YEARS OLD
This week "Golos Armenii" newspaper celebrated its 10th anniversary.
Yerevan Press Club congratulates colleagues with the jubilee and wishes them
success and prosperity.
"CIVILIZATION DIALOG" FOOTBALL CUP WON BY THE ARMENIAN ASSISTANCE FUND TEAM
On May 30 at the Yerevan "Dinamo" sports hall the final games of the third
international mini-football tournament for the Cup "Dialog of Civilizations"
organized by the Foreign Correspondents Association of Armenia took place.
As it has already been reported, the tournament started on May 6, bringing
together 10 teams (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, May 4-10, 2002).
The winner of the tournament was the Armenian Assistance Fund team, which
defeated the team of the Embassy of Germany, scoring 6:2. It is now the
owner of the "Civilizations Dialogue" Cup, made in Iran on the initiative of
a great football lover, the IRI Ambassador in Armenia Mohammad Farhad
Koleini. The third place was won by the US Embassy team, which managed to
score the victory-making goal over the Iran Embassy players during the
additional time (3:2). The latter won the "Fair Play" Cup.
The best player of the tournament was recognized to be the player of Germany
Embassy team Armen Durgarian. The best shooter was the player of the
Armenian Assistance Fund Hovhannes Stamboltsian. Our colleague from "A1+" TV
company Gevorg Shegunts playing for the team of the Foreign Correspondents
Association was named to be the best goalkeeper. The US Embassy team was
acknowledged to be the most skillful team.
The funds raised by ticket sale, as it had been initially planned by the
organizers of the benevolent tournament, were granted to help disabled
children.
When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.
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pressclub@ypc.am
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Editor of YPC Newsletter - Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
____________________________________________
Yerevan Press Club
39/12 Mesrop Mashtots Avenue
375009, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 3741) 53 00 67; 53 35 41
Fax: (+3741) 53 56 61; 53 76 62
E-mail: pressclub@ypc.am
Web Site: www.ypc.am
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