From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Fri Jun 21 2002 - 09:46:51 EDT
YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
JUNE 15-21, 2002
HIGHLIGHTS:
OSCE REPRESENTATIVE INTRODUCED A REPORT ON FREEDOM OF MEDIA
ANOTHER MEETING OF ARMENIAN, AZERBAIJANI AND TURKISH JOURNALISTS HELD
CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON TELEVISION AND
RADIO
THE CLAIMANTS OF THREE FREQUENCIES INTRODUCED THEIR BROADCAST CONCEPTS
MEMORABLE DATES OF "HAYOTS ASHKHAR" AND "HAYASTANI HANRAPETUTYUN"
OSCE REPRESENTATIVE INTRODUCED A REPORT ON FREEDOM OF MEDIA
On June 20 Freimut Duve, the OSCE representative on Freedom of Speech,
introduced his regular report to the OSCE Permanent Council. The section of
the report on Armenia reads:
"For the first time an adviser from my Office visited Armenia, where he met
with
government officials (from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice),
parliamentarians,
journalists and representatives from the NGO community. My adviser focused
on the general media situation in Armenia as well as on two specific cases:
the TV companies "Noyan Tapan" that was taken off the air last year, and
"A1+" that lost its licence this April. Although, in general, freedom of the
media does exist in Armenia, several worrying developments have raised some
questions regarding the government's commitment to the fundamental right of
freedom of expression.
"A1+" was the only broadcaster that basically provided air-time to all
parties and movements in the highly politicised climate that exists in
Armenia: opposition leaders, intellectuals, journalists were able to speak
and debate on A1+. Now this television station, one of the most popular in
the country, is off the air replaced by nothing. According to several
experts, including Shavarsh Kocharyan, the Chairman of the Standing
Committee on Science, Education, Culture and Youth Affairs of the National
Assembly, that also dealt with media matters, "A1+" lost its licence
(although an existing broadcaster, it had to bid for its own frequency after
its licence expired) in violation of several provisions of the Law on
Television and Radio Broadcasting. The company that won the licence,
"Sharm", has not yet started broadcasting and under current legislation, can
wait for six months after receiving it licence to start doing so. As a
result, a popular TV station is no longer on air. The public reacted with
anger to this closure and one of the largest demonstrations in recent years
was held in Yerevan in defence of "A1+". The TV station has already
unsuccessfully challenged its case in courts and may well go to the European
Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. What can be done to rectify this
situation?
First, I believe that the Armenian government should conduct a new tender
for existing and non-used frequencies, that could be held as soon as
possible, preferably this summer, and "A1+" and "Noyan Tapan" should be
encouraged to participate. For the time being, the authorities can easily
introduce an amendment to the current Law allowing a TV company that has
lost its licence to continue broadcasting until the new licensee is ready to
replace it. Second, the Law on Radio and Television should be amended. Here
the Council of Europe is actively involved in providing counseling and my
Office will also look at ways to assist the government and the National
Assembly in this endeavour.
Third, the current draft Media Law, that is being discussed publicly, should
be thoroughly analysed by international experts before being submitted to
the National Assembly for approval.
One of the representatives of the NGO community stressed to my adviser that
"If the government is allowed to get away with closing down "A1+", it will
then start pressuring the print media. They are next." For the sake of
Armenia and human rights in that country, I hope his pessimistic prediction
will not become reality. And it is up to the authorities to prove him
wrong."
ANOTHER MEETING OF ARMENIAN, AZERBAIJANI AND TURKISH JOURNALISTS HELD
On June 15-17 in Ankara the second trilateral meeting under
"Armenia-Azerbaijan-Turkey: Journalists Initiative-2002" was held. The
project is implemented by Yerevan Press Club, "Yeni Nesil" Journalists Union
of Azerbaijan and the Association of Diplomacy Correspondents of Turkey with
the assistance of the OSI Network Media Program. The first such meeting of
media and journalistic associations of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey was held
in March this year in Urgup (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, March 9-15, 2002).
Turkish Democracy Foundation supported the organization of the Ankara
meeting.
During the first two days the Armenian and Azerbaijani journalists visited
the editorial offices of the leading Turkish media - Anatolia News Agency,
"Milliyet", "Radikal", "Turkish Daily News" dailies, "Star" media holding,
"TV-8" and "Channel 7" TV companies.
At the round table held on June 17 the Armenian party made a presentation on
the coverage of the development prospects of Azerbaijani-Turkish relations
by Armenian media, the Azerbaijani and Turkish parties - on the coverage of
the development prospects of Armenian-Turkish and of Armenian-Azerbaijani
relations respectively by the media of their countries. During the
discussion the participants of the round table, where the public and
political circles of Turkey were also represented, touched upon such
sensitive issues as the recognition of the Armenian Genocide of 1915,
Karabagh conflict resolution, the role of journalists and media in
overcoming these problems, the establishment of climate of trust and
cooperation in the region.
Summing up the meeting, the representatives of Yerevan Press Club, "Yeni
Nesil" Journalists Union of Azerbaijan, the Association of Diplomacy
Correspondents of Turkey and the Turkish Democracy Foundation signed a Press
Memorandum, expressing their satisfaction with the constructive and
productive atmosphere at their talks and reaffirming their commitment to
further enhance their collaboration. The Memorandum reads in particular:
"The three journalistic organizations defend peaceful resolution of all
regional problems and welcome all initiatives aimed at eradication of
disputes through dialogue;
They reaffirm their belief that the development of regional cooperation in
information sphere is the right platform for enhancing prospects of
resolution of existing problems; (...)
In order to develop their cooperation and collaboration, the three
organizations will prepare their further proposals and submit them to the
scheduled fall trilateral meeting."
On June 20 at the Journalists Union of Armenia a press conference was held
where the Armenian participants of the Ankara meeting shared their
impressions of the trip with their colleagues.
CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON TELEVISION AND
RADIO
On June 17 the RA President Robert Kocharian signed a decree of a pre-term
authority discontinuation of the National Commission on Television and Radio
member Hrachik Bayadian. Hrachik Bayadian, who is the Chairman of the
Information Technologies Foundation, resigned.
On the same day the presidential decree appointed Simavon Andreasian to the
vacancy formed. Simavon Andreasian had for a long time been working within
the structure the RA Ministry of Communications, in 1998-2001 he was the
Executive Director of the Republican Center of Telecommunications. Since
2001 Mr. Andreasian has been the Councilor of the Chairman of the National
Commission on Television and Radio.
According to the transitional provisions of the RA Law "On Television and
Radio" and to ensure the rotation, the members of the National Commission of
the first composition, as formed on March 19, 2001, are appointed to
differing terms of service (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, March 17-23, 2001).
The term of service of Simavon Andreasian expires on March 19, 2005.
THE CLAIMANTS OF THREE FREQUENCIES INTRODUCED THEIR BROADCAST CONCEPTS
On June 20 the TV and radio companies applying for a broadcast license on
the FM 106 of Yerevan, the 21st UHF of Yerevan and the 32nd UHF of Vanadzor
(Lori region) presented their broadcast concepts to the National Commission
on Television and Radio. As it has already been reported, on May 17 the
National Commission announced repeated competitions for these frequencies,
since the competitions held previously were annulled (see YPC Weekly
Newsletter, May 11-24, 2002).
The applicants for the frequencies above include "Tospa" radio station,
"Hayrenik TV" and "Interkap" TV company, presently broadcasting on these
frequencies. The winners will be known on June 25.
MEMORABLE DATES OF "HAYOTS ASHKHAR" AND "HAYASTANI HANRAPETUTYUN"
On June 16 "Hayots Ashkhar" daily celebrated its 5th anniversary.
On June 14 "Hayastani Hanrapetutyun" released its 3000th issue.
Yerevan Press Club congratulates colleagues on these memorable occasions and
wishes them further success and prosperity.
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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
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