A two-day training workshop for media representatives on responsible, accurate and balanced reporting on elections was launched today in Yerevan, ahead of the 2012 parliamentary elections.

The workshop is organized by the OSCE Office inYerevanand the non-governmental organization theEuropein Law Association (ELA) and financed by the European Union. The event is also supported by the US Embassy inArmenia.

The workshop aims to familiarize Armenian journalists with the electoral framework as well as international freedom of expression standards in order to report on election issues in a balanced and ethical manner. 

“Balanced media coverage of electoral processes is essential for the conduct of free and fair elections. We hope that this workshop will equip journalists with the necessary knowledge and skills to provide accurate and balanced coverage of elections and thereby help voters to make an informed choice,” said Ambassador Andrey Sorokin, Head of the OSCE Office inYerevan.

"According to the government, the next elections will be the freest and fairest ever held inArmenia. We believe that journalists have a responsibility to check on the ground whether this will indeed be the case", said Traian Hristea, Head of Delegation of the European Union.

ELA’s legal team and experts from the media and human rights fields, who are giving the training, will cover the new electoral legislation, including electoral disputes, legislation and practice on defamation and insult, right to access to information and journalistic ethics.

Gavin Millar, an OSCE expert from the UK, added: "It is vital that opinions and information of all kinds can circulate before an election. But it is also particularly important that journalists report responsibly and lawfully at such a time. I look forward to participating in the workshop which will discuss these issues”.

Lousineh Hakobyan, the President of Europe in Law Association, said: “This workshop is aimed at contributing to the achievement of the bigger goal of free and fair elections inArmeniathrough raising the awareness of the relevant legislation among journalists and providing legal advice and representation before courts if criminal or civil cases are instituted against them.”

The workshop is part of a 1.7 million euro project on strengthening electoral processes inArmeniain line with international standards, implemented by the OSCE Office inYerevanand financed by the EU.