On June 19-21 OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Miklos Haraszti visited
Armenia. The purpose of the visit was to assess the media situation in the country.
During the visit Miklos Haraszti met with the President of Armenia Robert Kocharian,
the Chairman of the RA National Assembly Tigran Torosian, the Chairman of the
National Commission on Television and Radio Grigor Amalian, the management of
the Public TV and Radio Company of Armenia, representatives of other media,
international and non-governmental organizations.
On June 21 at Marriott-Armenia hotel in Yerevan the press-conference of Miklos
Haraszti was held. Summing up the visit, Mr. Haraszti said that a detailed report
on media situation in all member countries was to be presented in mid-July at
OSCE Permanent Council.
In the opinion of OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, during the past
years Armenia made significant progress in the improvement of media-related
legislation. In particular, Miklos Haraszti noted the more democratic procedure
for the formation of the body, regulating private broadcasting, and milder punishments
for libel. At the same time he expects legislative amendments, following the
amended Constitution. In particular, he suggested that libel and insult be decriminalized.
In the opinion of OSCE Representative, it is also important to legislatively
stipulate the unacceptability of concentration of broadcast media under the
control of one political force or economic group. Miklos Haraszti stressed that
the process of broadcast media licensing must be more open, transparent, public,
it must involve all political forces to ensure greater plurality.
Overall, in the opinion of Miklos Haraszti, the level of plurality in Armenia
is behind of what it could be. The diversity of opinion, he said, is reflected
by print media only. In broadcasting, institutionally sufficient conditions
for plurality are created – transformation of state television into public,
licensing of private companies, however, in the most influential broadcast media
the real level of plurality and diversity could have been higher.
In Armenia in recent years no organized harassment of journalists by the state
can be seen, Miklos Haraszti noted. He also gave a positive assessment to the
start of media self-regulation institute formation in Armenia.
Answering the questions, the OSCE Representative on the Freedom of the Media
said that during his meetings with Armenian officials among other issues the
possibility of licensing “A1+” TV company was discussed. In the opinion of Miklos
Haraszti, the example of “A1+” that has been deprived of a chance to go on air
for several years is a sign that Armenia has problems in broadcast licensing.
