Protocol on Trilateral Cooperation – November 8, 2001, Ankara, Turkey. The leaders of four organizations – Yerevan Press Club, “Yeni Nesil” Journalists Union of Azerbaijan, the Association of Diplomacy Correspondents of Turkey and Turkish Democracy Foundation signed a Cooperation Protocol. The purpose of the document is to facilitate the establishment of specific forms of interaction among the journalists of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, initiation of a dialog among various professional sectors and politicians of the three countries, thus assisting the settlement of existing problems and relieving the tension in the societies of the three countries. The draft of the Protocol was developed by the participants in Yerevan, Baku, Istanbul and Ankara series of the round table meetings “The Role of Media in Overcoming the Regional Conflicts and Eliminating the ‘Enemy Image’”, organized under a homonymous project initiated by Yerevan Press Club and “Yeni Nesil” Journalists Union of Azerbaijan and supported later by the Association of Diplomacy Correspondents of Turkey and Turkish Democracy Foundation. The Project was funded by Open Society Institute Network Media Program. To organize the further joint activities of the parties to the Protocol, a Coordination Office has been established, acting on bi-annual rotation basis.
“Finalization of the Results of Media Monitoring and Sociological Surveys on the Problem of Mountainous Karabagh” – October 29 – November 1, 2001, Baku, Azerbaijan, the third and final Meeting, organized under the Project “Karabagh Conflict in the Mirror of Media and Public Opinion in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Mountainous Karabagh”, implemented by Yerevan and Baku Press Clubs with the participation of Stepanakert Press Club and funded by the Open Society Institute Network Media Program. The participants (15 in number) included media representatives, media researchers and sociologists from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Mountainous Karabagh. Main issues discussed: reports on the opinion polls held among the public and decision makers in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Mountainous Karabagh; reports on the results of monitoring the leading Armenian, Azerbaijan and Karabagh media. The materials of these researches are planned for publication as a separate brochure in English and Russian.
“Legal Regulation of Public and Private Broadcasting” – October 6-7, 2001, Yerevan, Armenia, International Conference, organized by Yerevan Press Club and supported by East-East Program and the Network Media Program of the Open Society Institute, the Council of Europe, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, with the assistance of “Internews” NGO. The participants (90 in number) included journalists, lawyers, members of parliaments, leaders of professional associations of South Caucasus, Central Asia, Russia, Ukraine, other countries of Eastern and Central Europe, South Africa, representatives of reputable international organizations such as the Council of Europe, OSCE, the International Federation of Journalists, the European Institute for the Media. Main issues discussed: legal regulation of public and private broadcasting in developed and transitional democracies; the situation in public and private broadcasting, the practice of overcoming problems in the application of broadcast legislation in posttotalitarian countries, the possibilities of painless transition from state to public broadcasting; the possibilities of international cooperation in reforming broadcast legislation and practical implementation of modern standards. The materials of the Conference are planned by Yerevan Press Club for publication as a brochure in English and Russian languages.
“The Role of Media in Overcoming Regional Conflicts and Eliminating the Enemy Image” – September 7-11, 2001, Yerevan, Armenia, the third and final Round Table meeting, organized by Yerevan Press Club and “Yeni Nesil” Journalists Union of Azerbaijan with the participation of Association of Diplomacy Correspondents of Turkey under the Project “The Role of Media in Overcoming Regional Conflicts and Eliminating the Enemy Image”, implemented by YPC and “Yeni Nesil” and supported by the Open Society Institute Network Media Program. The participants (23 in number) represented the media, journalistic associations of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey. Main issues discussed: Armenian-Azerbaijani and Armenian-Turkish relations; regional integration as a part and precondition for global integration; commonalties and contradictions of the public attitudes, aims of the political elites and requirements of global processes; regional problems and European integration; media coverage of co-operation concepts and the public attitudes towards them. The participants of the Round Table developed a draft cooperation protocol, envisaging the establishment of specific cooperation forms between the journalists of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and a dialog among various professional sectors and politicians of the three countries. After the meeting was concluded, a press conference of the Round Table organizers was held at the Journalists Union of Armenia.
“Coverage of Activities of International Organizations and Foreign Missions by Armenian Media” – August 31 – September 2, 2001, Tsaghkadzor, Armenia, Seminar, organized by YPC and UNDPI Office in Armenia at the assistance of Friedrich Ebert Foundation. The participants (42 in number) included the representatives of media, journalistic associations, international, foreign organizations and diplomatic missions operating in Armenia. Main issues discussed: experience and problems in interaction between the international organizations and Armenian media; covering the activities of diplomatic missions, donor organizations, UN agencies in Armenian media; integration of Armenia into European structures and the role of media; activities of international organizations as viewed by Armenian journalists; creating public awareness about the mission and the work of international and foreign organizations.
“The Interim Results of Media Monitoring and Sociological Surveys on the Problem of Mountainous Karabagh” – July 27-29, 2001, Stepanakert, Mountainous Karabagh, second Meeting, organized under the Project “Karabagh Conflict in the Mirror of Media and Public Opinion in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Mountainous Karabagh”, implemented by Yerevan and Baku Press Clubs with the participation of Stepanakert Press Club and funded by the Open Society Institute Network Media Program. The participants (20 in number) included media representatives, media researchers and sociologists from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Mountainous Karabagh. Main issues discussed: the results of monitoring of the leading Armenian, Azerbaijan and Karabagh media for the first four months (March-June); introduction of the preliminary data gathered by polling the public and decision makers in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Mountainous Karabagh. The participants of Stepanakert Meeting were received by the MK Minster of Foreign Affairs Naira Melkumian. The Armenian and Azerbaijan journalists also visited the city of Shushi.
“The Role of Media in Overcoming Regional Conflicts and Eliminating the Enemy Image” – June 20-26, 2001, Baku (Azerbaijan), Istanbul, Ankara (Turkey), Round Table meetings organized by Yerevan Press Club and “Yeni Nesil” Journalists Union of Azerbaijan with the participation of Turkish Democracy Foundation and Association of Diplomacy Correspondents of Turkey under the Project “The Role of Media in Overcoming Regional Conflicts and Eliminating the Enemy Image”, implemented by YPC and “Yeni Nesil” and supported by the Open Society Institute Network Media Program. The participants (18 in number) represented the media, journalistic associations of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey. Main issues discussed: different aspects of the relations between Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey; role of media in overcoming “the enemy image” and creation of favorable information climate to normalize the relations between the countries; coverage of historical and modern regional problems in media; the transition from conflict mythologization to objective coverage of the reality. The participants visited the editorial offices of Azerbaijan and Turkish newspapers and broadcasters.
“Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Media Disputes in Judicial Practice of Armenia” – May 19-20, 2001, Yerevan, Armenia, Seminar, organized by the YPC, the Council of Europe, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with partner contribution from “Femida” NGO. The participants (90 in number) represented the media, journalistic associations, NGOs, judicial bodies of Armenia, international organizations, diplomatic missions accredited in RA. The RA Minister of Justice David Haroutiunian made an opening speech at the Seminar. Main issues discussed: European standards on relations between media and the justice; need for legislative changes in Armenia after membership in the Council of Europe; how to balance the freedom of the media and the right to a fair trial; current situation of the freedom of speech and media in Armenia; coverage of judicial issues by Armenian media; studies of two cases from the practice of the European Court on Human Rights and the RA Court of Cassation.
“Methodology for Media Monitoring and Sociological Surveys on the Problem of Mountainous Karabagh” – March 30 – April 2, 2001, Yerevan, Armenia, Meeting, organized by YPC under the Project “Karabagh Conflict in the Mirror of Media and Public Opinion in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Mountainous Karabagh”, implemented by Yerevan and Baku Press Clubs with the participation of Stepanakert Press Club and funded by the Open Society Institute Network Media Program. The participants (15 in number) included media representatives, media researchers, and sociologists from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Mountainous Karabagh. Main issues discussed: the results of the first (March) stage of monitoring of the leading Armenian, Azerbaijan and Karabagh media; finalization of the methodology for polling the public and decision makers in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Mountainous Karabagh.
“European Standards on Media Regulation” – January 11-12, 2001, Yerevan, Armenia, Seminar, organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan and the Council of Europe at the assistance of Yerevan Press Club and Internews Armenia. The participants (about 70 in number) represented the media, journalistic associations, state bodies of Armenia, international organizations, diplomatic missions accredited in RA. Main issues discussed: review of the Armenian media legislation, problems in the field of legal regulation of broadcast media in Armenia; free access to information and legislative initiatives in Armenia; international standards and requirements of the Council of Europe on media legislation. Special attention was given to the analysis of the RA Law “On TV and Radio” adopted by the National Assembly on October 9, 2000, its compliance with requirements of the Council of Europe, prospects of its practical implementation in broadcasting regulation, its role in developing free media in Armenia. In the opinion of most local and foreign experts, participating in the Seminar, this Law does not correspond to modern requirements and international standards, and many of its provisions contradict the Constitution and a number of other Armenian laws.
