A1+

[MJ]

A1+ was the only independent TV channel in Armenia closed down by the government last year. Seems like things have escalated further.

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A1+ to Leave Armenia

 

For the past 11 months, Armenian television has not provided objective and

fair information, while the sectors of political and public life are

deprived of the right to see their real reflections. The absence of A1+ will

be felt even stronger during the days of the upcoming elections and

following it. Everybody remembers the accurate information that A1+ provided

over the six years of the existence of "Ayb-Fe."

 

As a result of 11 months of standing idle, the staff of A1+ made a very

unpleasant decision. On February 15, they published an open letter addressed

to the foreign embassies in Armenia. Describing the current poor situation

in Armenia and the conditions which the A1+ staff faced, they requested

political asylum from these countries...

 

The letter particularly says that the situation in Armenia forced the staff

of A1+ to think that they have nothing else to do in this country.

 

This situation is, of course, understandable, but still the idea of leaving

the country is probably an extreme one.

 

The chairman of A1+ television company council Mesrop Movsisian said that

the letters have not been sent to the embassies yet. "The letter has been

prepared, and my coworkers are collecting signatures now. I am trying to

persuade them not to take this step. Serious events are expected in the near

future, and changes connected with the results of the elections are possible

to be made... It is very difficult to leave one's homeland, and I am trying

to explain this to them. But if the entire staff makes a decision to sign

this application, I will join them. We were together for eleven years, and

during the last months when everything was against us, no one left A1+... In

turn I cannot but join them," he said.

 

Mr. Movsisian also said that numerous calls are being received from people,

supporters of A1+, as well as from the Russian NTV and Rossia Television

Companies, all of whom are concerned about the matter. The authorities

remain silent.

 

Melania Barseghian

[MJ]

A1 Plus

19-02-2003 11:01:43

 

JOURNALISTS PREVENTED FROM HIGHLIGHTING VOTING PROCESS

 

"You have no right to shoot voting process at the polling station. I forbid

you!", Lilit Vardanyan, the chair of Echmiadzin's N 26/073 polling station

election commission, said "welcoming" our correspondent Karine Asatryan and

cameraman Robert Kharazyan.

 

Vardanyan refused to give any explanation before the camera. She only showed

a paper with instructions given by Central Election Commission forbidding

any record without its permission.

 

While we were arguing, a number of young persons attacked the cameraman and

beat him in a bid to seize the camera. They were crying that A1+ TV Company

has no a license.

 

So, the company shooting team was bared from fulfilling its professional

duty and driven out of the site. It is remarkable that our correspondents'

came to the polling station to verify a piece of information, according to

which over 200 ballots were placed in a ballot-box after committing violence

against presidential candidate Stepan Demirchyan's proxies.

 

Our correspondent Diana Markossyan has undergone violence at another polling

station. Ararat Rshtuni, the chair of the polling station commission tried

to seized her camera at that very moment when she was recording how a girl

stuffing many ballots in the box.

 

While she was resisting the attack, Rshtuni called the police. Diana has

been taken away by force.

 

In connection with above-mentioned incidents, A1+ TV Company filed a motion

to the Central Election Commission chair Artak Sahradyan

[MosJan]

MJ - A1+ has a nice web site http://www.a1plus.am

[MJ]

Thanks, MosJan.

 

These days it seems like Armenia is under informational blockade.

[MJ]

A1 Plus

09:32:22 Friday, 28 February 2003 ( official )

 

PREPARED STATEMENT BY WILLIAM M. CANTER

February 28, 2003

Yerevan, Armenia

 

My name is William M. Canter and I am the Chief of Party here at

Internews Armenia. I am going to read a prepared statement. Copies

of this statement are available to you in this room. I will not be

entertaining any questions at this time.

 

I am here today to address the members of the mass media and

other concerned parties in Armenia about our disappointment and

frustration with the lack of ability that you have had to do your

jobs as responsible, objective and balanced professional journalists.

 

We have all heard of the alleged incidents regarding the harassment

of the media that took place during the pre-election campaign and on

including Election Day. Unfortunately, it is the lack of information,

to the public, that brings us here today.

 

Let me be very clear. Internews decries the use of any violence

or harassment and we are especially troubled when it is directed

to members of the media. Recent incidents surrounding the election

have once again called our attention to the ongoing problems facing

journalists. These incidents are a serious setback to the progress of

civil society in Armenia. I'm deeply concerned that the development

of a free, unbiased and objective media is being gravely hindered.

 

Internews wants to express its continued disappointment with regard

to these actions and how they combine with an overwhelming movement

in Armenia to hinder accredited, professional journalists from doing

their jobs. The presence of such pressures only serves to enhance the

existing atmosphere of fear in the society, increases self-censorship

in the mass media and hampers the dissemination of free and unbiased

information, which can only lead to less than accurate, unbalanced

and subjective reporting.

 

The media's role in a developing nation is to offer free and unfettered

access to information. These alleged attacks and other related issues

that have been reported during the Presidential Election campaign

are cause for deep apprehension by Internews. Our mission in Armenia

is to strengthen independent media and work to allow all journalists

an editorial environment that encourages the professional, objective

and honest dissemination of information.

 

The opinion expressed herein does not necessarily reflect the views

of the US Agency for International Development, the U.S. Government

or any other funding partners of Internews Armenia.