YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)– Shamiram Aghabekian–a member of the Ramkavar Party of Armenia who had long been deputy editor-in-chief for the Golos Armenii daily newspaper–was recently appointed editor-in-chief of the Respublica Armenii (Hayastani Hanrapetutyun) daily newspaper.
Respublica Armenii reporter and chairperson of the Femida organization–Julietta Amirkhanian–said in an interview with Noyan Tapan that the founders of the newspaper are the newspaper’s staff and the Supreme Council of the Republic of Armenia–now the National Assembly. Under current regulations–the editor-in-chief is to be appointed by the founders.
"The National Assembly should have consulted with the newspaper before appointing a new editor-in-chief. The matter does not concern persons–but the nomenclature approach which remains the same even after the election of the new president," Amirkhanian commented. She believes it to be a violation of law committed by the head of the legislative body.
After the resignation of President Levon Ter-Petrosyan and several other top officials–Ashot Gazazian was acting as editor-in-chief. Gazazian has worked for the newspaper ever since it was founded and was deputy editor-in-chief for the past five years.
On May 5–Gazazian was invited to the National Assembly and notified about the appointment of a new editor-in-chief. Newspaper staff members held a meeting the same day in response to the new appointment expressing their disagreement and–as founders of the paper–decided to appoint Ashot Gazazian their new editor-in-chief. The daily staff members also urged the National Assembly to give its support to their decision.
