Parliament speaker calls on media to maintain freedom without distorting facts

Media workers should maintain their freedom without distorting facts, speaker of Armenia's National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan has said.

"Media, as a 'fourth branch of power', is one of the key achievements of independent Armenia. And as a politician and a citizen, I do really wish each media worker to make his/her essential contribution to building a stronger and more powerful Armenia," he told today an end-of-year meeting with journalists.

"Comment is free, but facts are sacred, this is what Charles Prestwich Scott, a publisher of Manchester Guardian, said as far back as 150 years ago. I am sure you will agree that these words remain as valuable today," Abrahamyan said.

"I respect and appreciate your work as media representatives who know the value of their words. Impartial media is like oxygen - you feel its absence when it is missing," he added.

The speaker further spoke of media criticism, saying that he can take a sober approach to it if there are real facts.
"Whenever I come across libel I treat it with humor," he said.

By the decree of speaker Abrahamyan, several journalists accredited to the National Assembly were honored with nominal watches for elucidating the parliament's work conscientiously.