The paper shortage that occurred in early December at “Tigran Mets” publishing
house, printing about three dozens of newspapers, endangered their publication
and induced the press to look for alternative ways of overcoming the crisis.
As it has been reported, the problem was due to the stoppage of Ilyichevsk (Ukraine)-Poti
(Georgia) ferry: hundreds of railway carriages intended for Armenia, including
those with print paper, gathered in the Ukrainian port (see details in YPC Weekly
Newsletter, December 1-7, 2006).
As “Tigran Mets” Director Vrezh Markosian announced, the paper arrival was expected
by this week-end. At this point, not to cease publishing, the press is doing
its best to wiggle out. This, however, did not tell on the prices, despite the
increased publishing expenses of, say, “Azg” and “Golos Armenii”. From December
9 to 13 these newspapers were printed in “Noyan Tapan” publishing house on a
more expensive paper. Besides, the technical facilities of “Noyan Tapan” did
not allow “Golos Armenii” to retain its standard volume (8/A2 pp.), and the
newspaper was published in 8/A3 pp. A number of other national dailies had to
move to other publishing houses, too. Thus, the official “Respublika Armenia”
is temporarily published in “Gandzapress” publishing house, “Novoye Vremya”
and “168 Zham” – in “Gind”.
