1. Freedom of Information

a. Law on «Freedom of Information» Democratic in Outward
Appearance: David Harutiunyan

[20.03.2004]

The Law "On freedom of information" is democratic in only superficial terms. In
fact, it lacks some important elements necessary for democratic development," RA
Minister of Justice David Harutiunyan stated at a round-table "Reforms of
Armenia's mass media legislation and its conformity with the European
standards."

According to him, the Law is faulty, contains numerous contradictions, including
its very name. It is natural that the Law should have evoked a negative response
of the country's public. The Minister explained that Article 24 of the RA
Constitution stipulates citizens' right to receive and disseminate information.
However, the name of the Law, "On Freedom of Information" only stipulates rights
to receive information, without saying anything on dissemination of information.
"The issue under discussion is not void of political nuances, so a certain
result is of paramount importance for us," Harutiunyan said. The Minister gave
assurances that the goal of the Law is ensuring real freedom of information. The
Law needs revising to become effective, the Minister said. The RA Ministry of
Justice applied to the OSCE and USAID for assistance in engaging an expert to
examine Armenia's mass media legislation. Harutiunyan does not deny that
Armenia's legislation is rather contradictory.

http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1556

b. “The Law was adopted and put
on bookshelves”

[18.03.2004]

The main issues of regulation of the LAw on Freedom of Information were
discussed yesterday in Hotel Congress in Yerevan. The initiators of the
discussion were the Civic Initiative for Freedom of Information and the UK
Embassy. British Ambassador mentioned UK’s Law on Freedom of Information as one
of the main achievements in her country. She outlined that transparency
stimulated an atmosphere of trust towards public officials. She also declared
that while Armenia adopted the law, it is placed just in the file cabinets.

Shoushan Doydoyan, president of the Freedom of Information Center explained why
the law is just stored in the bookshelves. One of the reasons is that the
governmental bodies should have special positions with appropriate salary for
the persons responsible for implementation of the law. According to the law,
this is not the position for public relations assumed as job for PR in favor of
the governmental agency, but it should be a position which provides information
to the public and mass media. Sh. Doydoyan informed that informational centers
will be opened soon in the Ministries on Health Care, Education and Social
Security, and in Tavoush and Gegharkunik marz centers.

Artak Kirakossyan, president of the Civil Society Institute said yesterday, that
informational filed should be separated from agitation. He believes that one
of the main elements of implementation of the law is adoption of regulation of
provision of information (oral and written). He also talked about publication of
“timely information” as well as payment for the information (in the form of
state tariff).

Rouzan Minasyan



http://www.hra.am/arm/index1.php?goto=news&id=667

c. To receive information, a
journalist spends years, and a citizen spoils his nerves

[18.03.2004]

Although our society does not show special civic activism, many citizens have to
wait in front of different governmental bodies and agencies, courts and
municipalities. Journalists speaking about freedom of information first of all,
mention difficulties in receiving information. Yesterday at the round table
devoted to the “Law on Freedom of Information”, they mentioned they complained
about closeness of several ministries, especially, Ministry of Culture, Defense
and Police. One of journalists waited for two years for a piece of information
from the Ministry of Defense. Public Relations officers of the Ministries tried
to explain their methods of working, and it is unfortunate that there was nobody
from the Ministry of Defense.

Three organizations Freedom of Information Center, Civil Society Institute and
Media Law Institute begin a series of round table with the aim to promote the
implementation of the law. Rouzan Poghosyan


http://www.hra.am/arm/index1.php?goto=news&id=668

d. "Parliament" on The Web


[19.03.2004]

“Parliament” official newsletter of RA National Assembly will from now on be
available on the web. The website of the newspaper is

www.khorhrdaran.parliament.am


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1559

2. Violation of Journalists' Rights

Police Impedes the Activity of “Noyan Tapan” Correspondent

[19.03.2004]

On the evening of March 12, a shooting took place in “Triumph” cafe of Yerevan,
in which five visitors were wounded. The representatives of law and order
bodies, arriving at the site of the incident, hampered the activity of “Noyan
Tapan” news agency correspondent, Armenak Chatinian. As the journalist said, his
press card was crumpled by the police and his camera snatched away. Armenak
Chatinian was transported to the police department of Center community of
Yerevan and released only four hours later. He got his camera back but without
the film containing the shots at the site of the incident.


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3. Racism. Intolerance

“Brainwashing “in the name” of national interests?” (excerpts)

The statement on the utterances of a number of Armenian politicians and several
publications in the press on the murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Margarian in
Budapest (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, March 5-11, 2004), signed by three my
colleagues and myself, had much feedback in Armenian press…The statement
presents our civil position and today, after a number of response articles and
interviews, there is apparently a need to re-address the issue and take a
broader view of it - this time not collectively, but individually, considering
one by one the grudges that were presented to us by our opponents.

…The xenophobia virus that seemed to fall asleep together with Soviet journalism
reopened its eyes. The mind of some Suslov-like ideologist apparently was
haunted by an unfresh idea: by the demonization of the surrounding world one can
instill the “proper” patriotism and “proper” sense of citizenship.

Boris Navasardian, President of Yerevan Press Club

the full text is available at

http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1561

4. Freedom of Press

a. CPJ on Attacks on Armenian Press in 2003

[19.03.2004]

On March 11, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) released its annual
survey about attacks on the press of different countries in 2003.

In the section devoted to Armenia it is noted in particular that "there were
several blows to media freedom in 2003". As an example to illustrate the case
criminal punishment of the journalists for libel and insult and “the continued
ban on broadcasting” of “A1+” TV are cited in particular. "In a country where 85
percent of the population receives its news from television, the ‘A1+’ case has
become a touchstone for press freedom", CPJ emphasizes.

"Armenia’s print media enjoy relative freedom but are largely controlled by
political parties and wealthy businessmen, which dampens outlets’ objectivity.
The print press is also plagued by low professional standards", the survey runs.

The survey also comments on the trial of the murder case of Chairman of the
Council of Public TV and Radio Company, Tigran Naghdalian


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1557

b. IPI World Press Freedom Review


[19.03.2004]

On March 10, Vienna-based International Press Institute (IPI) publicized its
annual world press freedom review for 2003. The review examines the state of the
media in over 184 countries, territories and administered areas.

The section devoted to Armenia states that after Armenia’s independence in 1991,
the development of a free press and freedom of speech has been rather slow and
often variable. Though there is no direct censorship, but “popular independent
channels are kept off the air, and, as the president of Yerevan Press Club has
pointed out, many journalists in Armenia associate elections with press freedom
violations and fear for their safety”.

The difficult economic climate, according to the IPI review, makes it hard for
the media to become fully independent, and many media are being influenced by
political parties and financial-industrial groups that support them.

As an example of legislative regulation of media activity, the review
particularly refers to the situation with adoption of RA Law “On Mass
Communication” and the new Criminal Code, which preserved provisions on criminal
persecution of the journalists for libel and insult. It is emphasized that
legislative branch rejected the appeals of many Western countries and reputable
international organizations about the necessity to decriminalize libel and
insult.

The situation with press freedom in Armenia is illustrated by other instances of
pressure on media in 2003.


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