International Association of Journalists "South Caucasus", established in December 2000 (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, December 8-14, 2000), is completing the procedures for its official registration in Strasbourg. The branches of the Association operate in Yerevan, Baku, Tbilisi, Stepanakert, Sukhumi, Tskhinvali. In future, branches of this international non-governmental organization are expected to open in other cities of the region as well.
Since October 1 the Association has started to implement a project, supported by the OSCE Office in Yerevan and the Government of the Federative Republic of Germany. The project envisages the preparation and the publication of book "Media in South Caucasus" that will present comprehensive information on the processes, trends, main events in the life of media in the region.
On October 1-2 in Yerevan the first working meeting, organized by International Association of Journalists "South Caucasus" in partnership with Yerevan Press Club was held. The meeting participants – experts and journalists that present the countries of South Caucasus – discussed the content, the structure and the methodology of the publication to be produced. The book is supposed to be made of the following sections: "Media-Related Legislation and the Rights of Journalists”, "Media and Elections", "Market of Print Media and News Agencies”, “Electronic Media Market”, “New Media”, ”Photojournalism”, "Professional Associations of Journalists and the Self-Regulation of Media", "Professional Education for Journalists”, "Media in Unrecognized Republics", "The Role of Media in the Regional Integration and Conflict Resolution”.
The book is scheduled for publication in English and Russian languages during 2003.
At a press-conference held on October 3, after the completion of the working meeting, the Head of OSCE Office in Yerevan Roy Reeve noted that all OSCE Offices in the region have supported and will continue the support to International Association of Journalists as an important tool for the achievement of peace and stability in South Caucasus.
