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Yerevan Press Club Weekly Newsletter - 07/12/2012

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  • Yerevan Press Club Weekly Newsletter - 07/12/2012

    YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

    JULY 6-12, 2012

    HIGHLIGHTS:

    "PRESS CLUB+" ON AIR OF "LORI" TV OF VANADZOR

    ARMENIAN NGO DISCUSSED ISSUES OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND CORRUPTION

    REPRESENTATIVES OF CIVIL SOCIETY OF ARMENIA URGE MEDIA OF THE COUNTRY FOR A
    MORE INTENSE COVERAGE OF PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN MOUNTAINOUS KARABAGH

    SUIT OF HEAD OF "MINAS AVETISIAN" FOUNDATION VERSUS BOARD CHAIRMAN OF
    "ASPAREZ" JOURNALISTS CLUB REVOKED

    "JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES" AND PTA FIRST CHANNEL REACH AN AMICABLE AGREEMENT

    VARDAN GRIGORIAN PASSED AWAY


    "PRESS CLUB+" ON AIR OF "LORI" TV OF VANADZOR

    In the evening of July 7 the season's last talk show of "Press Club+" cycle
    went on "Lori" TV company of Vanadzor. The program participants were
    representatives of political parties, NGOs, as well as intellectuals and
    journalists. The topic of discussion was the role of new media in the recent
    May, 2012 elections to RA National Assembly. The "Press Club+" was produced
    by Yerevan Press Club in cooperation with regional TV companies under
    "Alternative Resources in Media" project, supported by USAID.

    Watch "Press Club+" of July 7, 2012 here
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72fuYZDODHI

    ARMENIAN NGO DISCUSSED ISSUES OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND CORRUPTION

    On July 6-8 the seminar "The Role of the EaP Civil Society Forum in
    Implementing Reforms in the Fields of Public Administration and Fight
    against Corruption" was held in Vanadzor, Lori region. The event was
    organized by Yerevan Press Club with the support of Friedrich Ebert
    Foundation and was attended by representatives of media, human rights,
    journalistic and other NGOs of Armenia, as well as an expert from Ukraine.

    Ivan Presnyakov, Coordinator of Fight against Corruption Subgroup of Eastern
    Partnership Civil Society Forum's First Working Group, presented the
    implementation process of EaP CSF recommendations in the field of fighting
    corruption. The Armenian civil society's view on this issue was reflected in
    the speech of Varouzhan Hoktanian, Executive Director of Transparency
    International Anti-corruption Center. The report of Armineh Tukhikian,
    Co-Chairwoman of Urban Foundation for Sustainable Development, was dealing
    with realization of EaP programs in Armenia towards the democratization of
    local self-government bodies. Davit Dolmajian, Delegate of Local Democracy
    Agency in Armenia, told about the goals and initiatives of the Association
    of Local Democracy Agencies (ALDA). Mikayel Hovhannisian, Coordinator of
    Europe Program at Eurasia Partnership Foundation, introduced to the projects
    administered by EPF for fighting corruption. YPC President Boris Navasardian
    spoke about the perspectives of strengthening ties between EaP CSF and
    Armenian NGOs.

    REPRESENTATIVES OF CIVIL SOCIETY OF ARMENIA URGE MEDIA OF THE COUNTRY FOR A
    MORE INTENSE COVERAGE OF PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN MOUNTAINOUS KARABAGH

    On July 9 a number of NGOs, journalists and experts of Armenia released a
    statement regarding the upcoming July 19, 2012 presidential elections in
    Mountainous Karabagh. The statement highlights the role of free and
    transparent elections for future development of a country striving for
    international recognition, the importance of holding the electoral campaign
    in an atmosphere of constructive political debate and boosting the interest
    for the electoral battle. To ensure all this, the inclusiveness of civil
    society and media of Armenia is thereof emphasized - taking into account the
    linkage of processes, unfolding in Armenia and Mountainous Karabagh. The
    statement signatories called upon the Armenian media "to guarantee the
    consistent, involved and professional coverage of the electoral campaign of
    the presidential elections in Mountainous Karabagh - at least in its final
    stage."

    SUIT OF HEAD OF "MINAS AVETISIAN" FOUNDATION VERSUS BOARD CHAIRMAN OF
    "ASPAREZ" JOURNALISTS CLUB REVOKED

    On July 11 Gyumri court of general jurisdiction of Shirak region revoked the
    suit of Arman Avetisian, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of "Minas
    Avetisian" Charitable Foundation, versus Levon Barseghian, Board Chairman of
    "Asparez" Journalists Club of Gyumri. As it has been reported, the reason
    for the suit became the pieces "Struck the Family Capital", "Arman Avetisian
    Is Lying for Unknown Reasons", "Some Things Cannot Be Forgiven", placed on
    "Asparez" website (www.asparez.am) on June 11-16, 2011. The articles dealt
    with the developments regarding the transfer from Gyumri to Yerevan of two
    frescoes by the famous Armenian painter Minas Avetisian (Arman Avetisian is
    one of his sons). The respective governmental decision was passed on April
    28, 2011 and resulted in a wide protest, numerous actions in Gyumri. On June
    23, 2011 Arman Avetisian sent a letter to the Head of "Asparez", demanding
    to publish a refutation or a reply. The letter was stored on the "Asparez"
    website on June 30, 2011. Moreover, Levon Barseghian expressed his readiness
    to publish the refutation, whenever it was presented by Arman Avetisian.
    Meanwhile, on August 4 the Head of "Minas Avetisian" Foundation addressed
    the court, demanding to oblige Levon Barseghian to present apologies,
    publish a refutation and the court ruling, compensate the damage for libel
    and insult in the amount of 2 million AMD (about $ 5,500), as well as the
    court expenses of 200,000 AMD. Hearings on the case started on September 9,
    2011 (see YPC Annual Report "On Freedom of Speech in Armenia" for 2011 at
    http://www.ypc.am/about_freedom/ln/eng).

    According to the July 11, 2012 court ruling, the suit was revoked since
    Arman Avetisian had missed the one-month term defined by law for addressing
    the court. It should be noted that according to Part 13 of Article 1087.1 of
    RA Civil Code ("Order and Conditions of Compensation of Damage to the Honor,
    Dignity or Business Reputation"), a claim shall be submitted to the court
    within 6 months from the moment of insult or defamation (in the given case
    from the moment of publication of the pieces - Ed. Note), but no later than
    within one month from the moment the person becomes aware of the insult or
    defamation. The letter of Arman Avetisian to Levon Barseghian was dated of
    June 23, 2011, while the suit was submitted on August 4, 2011. This was also
    stressed in the June 8, 2012 expert conclusion of Information Disputes
    Council regarding this lawsuit (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, June
    8-14, 2012).

    "JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES" AND PTA FIRST CHANNEL REACH AN AMICABLE AGREEMENT

    On July 10 court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash
    administrative districts of Yerevan approved the amicable agreement between
    the members of "Jehovah's Witnesses" religious organization and the
    employees of Public Television of Armenia, Gevorg Altunian, Sona Torosian,
    Nuneh Aleksanian and Edgar Davtian. On December 9, 2010 seven members of
    "Jehovah's Witnesses" contested at court the information, which was aired on
    November 9, 10 and 11, 2010 in the programs of PTA First Channel, "Haylur"
    and "Tesankyun". The pieces informed that A.T., inhabitant of Sevan, being
    accused for murdering his parents, is a member of "Jehovah's Witnesses". The
    plaintiffs demanded to refute the untrue information, discrediting their
    honor and dignity, and the business reputation of the religious
    organization, as well as made financial claims. The court hearings on the
    case started on April 13, 2011 (see YPC Annual Report "On Freedom of Speech
    in Armenia" for 2011 at http://www.ypc.am/about_freedom/ln/eng).

    According to the amicable agreement, concluded between the parties, the
    plaintiffs refrain from their claims upon the condition that the respondent
    publishes a refutation. On June 5, 2012 PTA First Channel aired twice the
    information saying that the abovementioned accused A.T. is not a member of
    "Jehovah's Witnesses". The text of refutation was also stored on the TV
    company's website.

    VARDAN GRIGORIAN PASSED AWAY

    On July 9 in Yerevan at the age of 58 Vardan Grigorian, prominent
    journalist, Candidate of Philological Sciences, passed away. In 1989-1997
    Vardan Grigorian was the Chief Editor of "Epokha" weekly, in 1998-2000 -
    political observer of "Golos Armenii" newspaper. In the last years Vardan
    Grigorian was engaged in scholarly activities; since 2009 he was the Deputy
    Director of Armenian Studies Institute at Yerevan State University.

    Yerevan Press Club expresses its condolences to the relatives and friends of
    Vardan Grigorian.


    When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
    Press Club is required.

    You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
    [email protected]

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    Editor of YPC Newsletter - Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
    ____________________________________________
    Yerevan Press Club
    9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
    0002, Yerevan, Armenia
    Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
    Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Web Site: www.ypc.am



    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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