CJTeam, Yerevan, 15 Jun 2009 – Recently two documents have been prepared by the U.S. Government referring also to the Armenian media: the U.S. Department of State Annual Report on the world democratic processes published in May and the Statement on May 31Municipal Elections in Yerevan appeared last week on the website of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia.
The sector of the U.S. Embassy Statement regarding media says, “We commend the Armenian authorities for an improved media climate that afforded all parties and candidates the ability to reach voters through the electronic media.
The Statement registers that although some opposition parties received less overall coverage than parties in the ruling coalition, the coverage of the opposition – unlike in the 2008 presidential campaign – was generally neutral in content.
“Opposition candidates and their supporters were provided opportunities to make their case in extended interviews on various television outlets, including public television, and they took advantage of many of those opportunities,” is recorded in the Statement.
The complete text of the Statement is available on the official website of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia.
The picture is different according to the U.S. Department of State Report. Freedom of media is considered of primary importance in the Report by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor of the U.S. Department of State regarding democracy and human rights of Armenia.
The Report records that a 20-day state of emergency announced after the March 1 events following the 2008 presidential elections has severely restricted media freedoms.
“In response to the flawed presidential elections and other democratic backsliding in Armenia in 2008, the United States has intensified work with civil society, independent media, local government, women and youth activists, and reformers within the government to reverse negative trends and respond to public demand for reform and democratization,” says the Department of State Report.
According to the Report it is very important to raise the citizens’ awareness in democratic processes and to engage them in political processes thus contributing to formation of a new political culture.
The complete annual Report is available on official website of the U.S. Department of State.
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