Armenian president removes media restrictions
13.03.2008,
19:33
RA President Robert Kocharyan has removed a number of restrictions imposed of Armenia’s mass media by a decree on a state of emergency in the country. The new decree is to take effect on March 14.
YEREVAN, March 13. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharyan has removed a number of restrictions imposed of Armenia’s mass media by a decree on a state of emergency in the country. The new decree is to take effect on March 14.
The RA presidential press service reports that the RA President made alterations to his decree of March 1. The new wording of Sub-Paragraph 4 of Paragraph 4 is: “prohibition of deliberate misinformation of mass media on state and domestic political affairs”.
The decree prohibits any calls for participation in illegal activities, as well as dissemination of misinformation on such activities. According to the original wording of the presidential decree, mass media were allowed to public information on state and domestic political affairs exclusively within the limits of official information.
At his meeting with journalists yesterday, President Robert Kocharyan stated the possibility of altering the terms of emergency in Yerevan.
“This evening or tomorrow morning I will sign a decree altering the approach. At present, as part of the state of emergency we are pointing to what may be done, and the new decree will point to what may not,” Kocharyan said.
Today, the RA President’s decree also invalidates Sub-Paragraph 5 of Paragraph 4 of the March 1 decree, saying: “political propaganda by means of leaflets or by other means is prohibited unless permitted by relevant government bodies”.
On March 1, 2008, the RA President signed a decree imposing a state of emergency in Yerevan.
The following points of the decree remain in force: prohibition of meetings, demonstrations, processions, strikes and other mass activities hindering organizations’ activities; law-enforcers are entitled to search vehicles and individuals.
On March 10, the RA President signed a decree removing the restrictions on the activities of parties and other public organizations preventing the elimination of circumstances that led to the declaration of a state of emergency. The decree also invalidated the points on the eviction of people violating the emergency regime. –0--
The RA presidential press service reports that the RA President made alterations to his decree of March 1. The new wording of Sub-Paragraph 4 of Paragraph 4 is: “prohibition of deliberate misinformation of mass media on state and domestic political affairs”.
The decree prohibits any calls for participation in illegal activities, as well as dissemination of misinformation on such activities. According to the original wording of the presidential decree, mass media were allowed to public information on state and domestic political affairs exclusively within the limits of official information.
At his meeting with journalists yesterday, President Robert Kocharyan stated the possibility of altering the terms of emergency in Yerevan.
“This evening or tomorrow morning I will sign a decree altering the approach. At present, as part of the state of emergency we are pointing to what may be done, and the new decree will point to what may not,” Kocharyan said.
Today, the RA President’s decree also invalidates Sub-Paragraph 5 of Paragraph 4 of the March 1 decree, saying: “political propaganda by means of leaflets or by other means is prohibited unless permitted by relevant government bodies”.
On March 1, 2008, the RA President signed a decree imposing a state of emergency in Yerevan.
The following points of the decree remain in force: prohibition of meetings, demonstrations, processions, strikes and other mass activities hindering organizations’ activities; law-enforcers are entitled to search vehicles and individuals.
On March 10, the RA President signed a decree removing the restrictions on the activities of parties and other public organizations preventing the elimination of circumstances that led to the declaration of a state of emergency. The decree also invalidated the points on the eviction of people violating the emergency regime. –0--
