Government appoints Styopa Safaryan as new head of Public Council
19.12.2019,
14:16
The Armenian government has appointed today political analyst Styopa Safaryan as new chairman of the Public Council.
YEREVAN, December 19. /ARKA/. The Armenian government has appointed today political analyst Styopa Safaryan as new chairman of the Public Council. Safaryan is the director of the Armenian Institute of International Relations, He is replacing Vazgen Manukyan, who stepped down on November 13.
Safaryan's candidacy was put forward by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who said he was taking up the post at a difficult time. Pashinyan recalled that the advisory body consisting of several dozen public figures has repeatedly been criticized for its irrelevance and lack of impact since its inception. He said Safaryan will have to prove the effectiveness of the Council.
“To be honest, I believe that effective work is possible. During this time, I needed an effective advisory body. Unfortunately, the reality was completely different. I am ready to do everything possible to make the Public Council such a body,” he said. The prime minister also expressed hope that the Public Council will become a platform for dialogue with extra-parliamentary forces.
"We do not claim to be the only bridge between the public and the government. Fortunately, there are many of them, but we promise to bring the voice of the public and all our partners to the government, to be useful with our advice," Safaryan said.
On October 29, the Armenian Institute of International Relations banned a number of local media outlets from participating in the coverage of an open discussion on the subject “October 27, 20 years later: a look into the past, lessons and discussions.”
The day before, Styopa Safaryan, posted on his Facebook page the list of mass media outlets banned from the event- they were News.am, Hayeli.am, 168.am, Yerevan Today, 7or.am, Livenews.am, Channel 5 and Yerkir Media TV companies.
The move was condemned by the Committee to Protect Freedom of Speech and the Union of Journalists of Armenia. They were joined by the Yerevan Press Club, the Center for Media Initiatives, the Institute of Comprehensive Information, the Freedom of Information Center, the Club of Public Journalism, the Journalists for the Future, the Journalists for the Human Rights and the Goris Press Club. -0-
Safaryan's candidacy was put forward by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who said he was taking up the post at a difficult time. Pashinyan recalled that the advisory body consisting of several dozen public figures has repeatedly been criticized for its irrelevance and lack of impact since its inception. He said Safaryan will have to prove the effectiveness of the Council.
“To be honest, I believe that effective work is possible. During this time, I needed an effective advisory body. Unfortunately, the reality was completely different. I am ready to do everything possible to make the Public Council such a body,” he said. The prime minister also expressed hope that the Public Council will become a platform for dialogue with extra-parliamentary forces.
"We do not claim to be the only bridge between the public and the government. Fortunately, there are many of them, but we promise to bring the voice of the public and all our partners to the government, to be useful with our advice," Safaryan said.
On October 29, the Armenian Institute of International Relations banned a number of local media outlets from participating in the coverage of an open discussion on the subject “October 27, 20 years later: a look into the past, lessons and discussions.”
The day before, Styopa Safaryan, posted on his Facebook page the list of mass media outlets banned from the event- they were News.am, Hayeli.am, 168.am, Yerevan Today, 7or.am, Livenews.am, Channel 5 and Yerkir Media TV companies.
The move was condemned by the Committee to Protect Freedom of Speech and the Union of Journalists of Armenia. They were joined by the Yerevan Press Club, the Center for Media Initiatives, the Institute of Comprehensive Information, the Freedom of Information Center, the Club of Public Journalism, the Journalists for the Future, the Journalists for the Human Rights and the Goris Press Club. -0-
