On June 20-22 in Sevan seminar “Rights and Accountability of Media” was held.
The seminar was organized by Yerevan Press Club with the assistance of the Council
of Europe. In the event heads and representatives of media, journalistic associations
of Armenia, foreign experts took part. Opening remarks were made by YPC President
Boris Navasardian, Administrator of the Council of Europe Media Division Charlotte
de Broutelles, Head of Council of Europe Department of the RA Ministry of Foreign
Affairs Ara Margarian.
The seminar participants discussed a broad spectrum of issues, related to freedom
of expression, media responsibility and self-regulation. Professor of French
Press Institute (Paris University-2) Claude-Jean Bertrand spoke about the media
accountability systems. Chief Editor of “Azg” daily Hagop Avedikian presented
the situation of self-regulation in the journalistic community of Armenia. YPC
President Boris Navasardian focused on the coverage of internal and external
conflicts by Armenian media, and the Lawyer of the European Court of Human Rights
Mario Oetheimer addressed the freedom of expression and journalists’ responsibility
issues at times of crises in the context of European standards. The seminar
was concluded by a panel discussion in which the Chief Editor of “Aravot” daily
Aram Abrahamian, YPC Expert Mesrop Harutiunian, CE Experts Claude-Jean Bertrand
and Mario Oetheimer took part. The discussion of how to keep the balance between
the freedom of expression and the right to privacy was based on the example
of two court cases “Von Hannover v. Germany” and “Tammer v. Estonia”, heard
by the European Court of Human Rights.
