On July 31 – August 2 in Chakvi (Georgia) regional conference “Harmonization of Media-Related Legislation of South Caucasus Countries with European Standards” held by the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression (Armenia), Baku Press Club (Azerbaijan) and Association of Young Lawyers (Georgia), under a homonymous project implemented with the assistance of Cooperation Program in South Caucasus of Eurasia Foundation.
The conference participants – representatives of media, public, also journalistic organizations discussed the process of reforming legislative sphere, regulating the media activities, in the three countries of South Caucasus, in the context of commitments assumed to the Council of Europe. It was noted that recently, due to various reasons, also lobbying activities, certain positive changes have occurred in the media legislations of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The meeting participants took particular interest in the problem of legal regulation of the TV broadcasting. The second part of the conference was dedicated to the violations of the rights of journalists and media in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia in 2001-2003, along with the current situation in the sphere.
The final stage of the project “Harmonization of Media-Related Legislation of South Caucasus Countries with European Standards” will consist in the publication of a book, containing reviews of the main provisions of the media legislation and adjacent laws, comparative analysis of these legal acts and recommendation on their improvements as well as reports on the violations of rights of journalists and media in 2001-2003.
