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On February 11, the opening press conference of newly established “Media Center” took place. The centre mission, goals and objectives in line with upcoming events scheduled in “Media Center” during pre-election and election period as well as cooperation opportunities with Mass Media were presented.

UK Ambassadors to Armenia Jonathan Aves, Carel Hofstra, Head of Counterpart International in Armenia, Larisa Minasyan, Executive Director of the Open Society Institute-Armenia, Seda Muradyan, Head of Public Journalism Club and Gayane Abrahamyan, coordinator of “Media Center” participated in the press conference.

“Media Center” is a new platform to bring together the potentials of civil society and Media. Our primary mission is support Mass Media in the elucidation of election process via making accessible the information provided by public structures and civil initiatives that carry out the monitoring of the election processes, observers’ groups, who conduct observation mission at election precincts and public journalists.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Great Britain Jonathan James Aves noted they were doing their utmost to contribute to adequate organization and conduction of elections. “Like other partner diplomatic consulates and their representatives, we also consistently follow the election process and we are pleased to assist Armenia with such a crucial decision to strive for European standards. I am convinced this center has the potential to ensure transparency of election processes and create a bridge between the voters, Mass Media and the society”, stated J. Aves.

Larisa Minasyan, Executive Director of the Open Society Institute-Armenia, stated that “Media Center” will serve as a bridge for civil society activism, skills and technology resources. “Media Center” will make all this accessible to the general public by converting the election elucidation into a more trustworthy and transparent one”, notes Larisa Minasyan.

Carel Hofstra, Head of Counterpart International in Armenia, also noted that Mass Media representatives and the civil society can unite for the benefit of public interest. “Provision of resources to the civil society is the primary objective of our project”, says C. Hofstra.

Seda Muradyan, Head of Public Journalism Club, notified that journalists could obtain information regarding elections from the center and make use of the centre resources to conduct interviews with the representatives and heads of NGOs carrying out observation mission, take individual interviews from observers.  February 18, on the day of voting, “Media Center” will operate for 24 hours non-stop, there will be press conferences, Skype calls from election precincts as well as interviews with analysts, observers, civil society representatives, presidential candidates and their proxies.

The video version of the press conference is available at www.a1plus.am or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOfTV_plabk&feature=youtu.be at YOUTUBE.

On February 11, an interview with presidential candidate Arman Melikyan was conducted at “Media Center”.  Follow the video version of the interview at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtvbfjTi7_I&list=UUXdAEFA6DLFd-rcPYnATCRA&index=4

The current week’s schedule for “Media Center” press conference-discussions

Date, Subject, Guests

12.02 (Tuesday)

Time: 12:00

Electoral Violations

Election rolls, elections and election campaign at closed institutions (Army, Penitentiaries), violation of voting rights of RA citizens residing abroad

• Harutyun Hambartsumyan, President of “Choice is Yours” NGO conducting long-term observation mission

• NA Deputy (RPA) Hovhannes Sahakyan

• Human rights Defender Artur Sakunts, Chairman of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor

• “Heritage” Party Spokesman Hovsep Khurshudyan

• Hovhannes Kocharyan, Chief of the Passport and Visa Department of RA Police,

13.02 (Wednesday)

Time: 12:00

Public Issues

Issues related to the Army, Ecology and City Planning in the programs of RA presidential candidates

• “Army in Reality” Civil Initiative, Tsovinar Nazaryan

• Lala Aslikyan, Vardine Grigoryan

• “Our City” Initiative

• “Healthy Hrazdan” Civil Initiative group Movses Manukyan

• Gyumri “Asparez” Journalists’ Club, Chairman Levon Barseghyan

• Transparency International, Deputy President Sona Ayvazyan

• Zaruhi Postanjyan (“Heritage” party)

14.02 (Thursday)

Time: 12:00

Issues related to Electoral Rights

Issues regarding electoral rights of people with special needs, the involvement of women and youth in the election processes

• Head of “Unison” NGO for Support of People with Special Needs, Armen Alaverdyan in charge of monitoring results of long-term observation mission conducted by the NGO

• Anahit Bakhshyan (“Heritage” Party)

• NA Deputy Margarit Yesayan

15.02 (Friday)

Time: 12:00

Blogosphere, social networks

Blogosphere, social networks, internet impact and involvement in election processes, freedom of speech or slander

• Blogger: Tigran Kocharyan, Edgar Barseghyan, Samvel Martirosyan

• Styopa Safaryan (“Heritage” Party)

• Internews Media Support NGO expert Gegham Vardanyan

• “Yerevan Press Club” Chairperson Boris Navasardyan

• “Hetq” daily Chief Editor Edik Baghdasaryan

• Freedom of Information Center of Armenia Expert Gevorg Hayrapetyan

For additional information, please, contact project coordinator Gayane Abrahamyan at (+374 55) 266886, (+374 60) 505898, (+374 99) 755 898 or e-mail her at mediacenter@mynews.am.

http://nt.am/am/news/176802/