Yerevan seminar on media regulation

YEREVAN, 9 January 2001 - Media legislation and access to information will be the subject of a two-day seminar on "European Standards on Media Regulation" to be held on 11 and 12 January 2001 in Yerevan. The seminar is organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan in co-operation with the Council of Europe.

The aim of the seminar is to review current media legislation in Armenia, the situation regarding access to information, and relevant legislative initiatives in this regard. The seminar will also conduct a detailed analysis of the Television & Radio Broadcasting Law adopted by the Armenian National Assembly on 9 October 2000. Two invited experts from the Council of Europe will discuss European standards on media regulation and the conformity of current Armenian legislation with the requirements of the Council of Europe.

Armenia has been invited to become a member of the Council of Europe. One of the commitments undertaken by Armenia is to ensure that media legislation complies with basic international principles.

The seminar will bring together representatives from various government bodies, mass media, and academics to exchange opinions on the current media legislation. It will provide an opportunity to discuss related problems and suggest ideas to improve the situation.

The OSCE Office in Yerevan was established in February 2000 to promote the implementation of OSCE principles and commitments as well as the co-operation of the Republic of Armenia within the OSCE framework, in all OSCE dimensions, including the human, political, economic and environmental aspects of security and stability.

For further information please contact Ms. Gohar Avagyan, Office Co-ordinator, OSCE Office in Yerevan, tel.: +374 1 54 10 62, + 374 1 54 58 45; e-mail: osce@osce.am