“PRESS CLUB” CYCLE: CARTOONS OF THE PROPHET AND NEW PARTIES
On February 28, on the evening air of “Yerkir Media” TV company the first issue of “Press Club” cycle was broadcast (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, February 17-23, 2006).
The representatives of media and journalistic associations of Armenia discussed two hot topics: the world response to the cartoons of Prophet Muhammad, published in Denmark, within the context of freedom of expression; the process of forming new parties in Armenia and their impact on the social political life.
Next Tuesday, March 7 at 21.00, “Press Club+” talk show will be aired on “Yerkir Media”. It is planned that the guests of Aram Abrahamian, the “Press Club+” host and Chief Editor of “Aravot” daily, will be representatives of National Democratic Union and experts.
“Press Club” and “Press Club+” cycle is also aired by “Hamaspyur” Television Network, uniting 11 regional TV companies of Armenia.
LESSONS AND OBJECTIVES OF ARMENIAN MEDIA
On February 25-26 a seminar on “Lessons of the Coverage of Referendum on Amendments to RA Constitution and Objectives of Media in the Coming Elections” was held in Gyumri. It was organized by Yerevan Press Club with the support of Friedrich Ebert Foundation. The event participants included representatives of journalistic associations, media, heads of regional TV channels, press services of state structures and political parties of Armenia.
At the seminar, results of the monitorings of the coverage of November 27, 2005 referendum by national media (administered by Yerevan Press Club) and by the media of Shirak and Lori regions (held by “Asparez” Journalist’s Club of Gyumri and Vanadzor Office of Helsinki Citizens Assembly) were introduced. The subject for discussion at the seminar were also legal regulation of the coverage of referenda and elections, the issue of public awareness in most important political campaigns, the culture of political discussions in media and initiatives of NGOs on promoting pluralism on air.
HEAD OF “LORI” TV INTIMIDATED
On February 23, around 23.00 in Vanadzor an incident occurred with Executive Director of “Lori” TV company Narine Avetisian. According to the journalist, in a food store, where she dropped by on her way home, the owner of two lines of the city mini buses approached her and started insulting and threatening Narine Avetisian, demanding “to stop counting his money or she will end badly”.
The discontent of the entrepreneur was caused by the topic, constantly raised by Narine Avetisian on the air of “Lori” TV, related to ungrounded raising of city transportation fees. The new tariffs for the use of buses and mini buses were introduced in Vanadzor since January 1, 2006 and with a violation of the due requirements, as Narine Avetisian insists. The participants in the TV discussions on this urgent issue for the Vanadzor residents included both independent experts and representatives of city municipality. At the same time, their host, Narine Avetisian, was constantly and unsuccessfully inviting the owners of the up-grown mini bus routes to express their position on air. One of the programs, as Narine Avetisian said, presented the calculations of the net profit gained as a result of price rises for the city transportation. Possibly, this is what inspired fury of the mentioned owner of mini bus routes, who was publicly threatening the journalist “for the attempt to get into his pocket”.
After the incident at the store, Narine Avetisian decided to return to the editorial office. She said that a car, with the entrepreneur in it, had followed her all the way. The same car, as Narine Avetisian noted, had long circulated around the TV company building. The journalists had to wait it over at the office until 2 a.m. before she could go home.
Vanadzor Press Club and Vanadzor Office of Helsinki Citizens Assembly made a joint statement, condemning persecution of the journalist and demanding punishment for those responsible.
As Narine Avetisian said, investigation of the incident started at the city police department of Vanadzor.
ULP FACTION INITIATES AMENDMENT TO THE LAW ON “POSTAL COMMUNICATION”
The Parliamentary faction of United Labor Party (ULP) made an initiative to introduce amendments to RA Law “On Postal Communication”. The draft law submitted on February 17 to RA National Assembly proposes to exclude from Article 3 of the Law “On Postal Communication”, containing a list of postal services, subscription for the periodicals (in compliance with Article 11 of the Law, the postal services are subject to licensing).
The basis for the legislative initiative of ULP faction was an ambiguous wording of the mentioned Article, causing different interpretations. Thus, it allowed the tax bodies to demand licenses from the companies engaged in the distribution of newspapers and magazines by subscription, otherwise they would face sanctions likely to result in bankruptcy (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, December 2-8, 2005). The journalistic associations of Armenia, including YPC, and the “Partnership for Open Society” initiative expressed concern over the situation and called on the authorities to reconsider the law provisions. The author of the Law “On Postal Communication”, RA Ministry of Transport and Communication, gave an official clarification, stating that the subscription for the periodicals is not a postal service, and, correspondingly, is not viewed as an activity liable to licensing (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, February 3-9, 2006). Now, it is up to the National Assembly to give a final resolution of the issue.
RADIO “SHIRAK” CHANGES FREQUENCY
On February 27, at the session of the National Commission on Television and Radio a decision was adopted to change the broadcast frequency of “Shirak” public radio from FM 105.0 MHz to 102.5 MHz. The replacement was caused by technical reasons.
SOCIAL CLIPS ON CHILD PROBLEMS
On February 23 in Yerevan, presentation of “Civil Society Development in Armenia” project was held. It was administered by “Audio-Visual” Reporters Association with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland. At the presentation, 10 social clips were introduced. They were prepared within the project of the Association as an attempt to draw the attention of the society to the problems of the children with disabilities, living beyond the poverty line, and the juvenile delinquents.
