Stakeholders' Committee

Structure

Levon Barseghyan was elected as an MCA-Armenia Stakeholders' Committee member representing civil society and stakeholder communities (May, 2006).

Levon Barseghyan is the founding member and the Council Chairman of "Asparez" Journalists Club NGO in Gyumri, as well as the Chief Editor of "Gyumri-Asparez" journal. As the NGO Chairman L. Barseghyan is leading polling, trainings, strategic-structural problem solving of the organization and coordinates a number of major projects.

In 1991 Mr. Barseghyan received a Master Degree in Geology, Yerevan State University, with specialization of Geologist-Geophysical Engineer, later he received a Master degree of
Social Sciences with specialization of Journalist/Photo-correspondent, Yerevan State University. He also participated in a number of local and international conferences, was actively involved in training and exchange programs and made presentations on the current situation of Mass Media, major problems on freedom of speech in Armenia. Currently L. Barseghyan is lecturing in the "Progress" University in Gyumri. He is the author of a number of chronicle documentary films.

In 1999 Mr. Barseghyan won the 2nd prize from Social Advertisement Pre-election Competition organized by Internews, with the films "the Dale of Death" and "9 years later" he was twice nominated and won the special prize of the First TV-forum of CIS in Moscow, Russia (1998). In 1987 L. Barseghyan was awarded with a Medal from Russian Federation "For the building of the Baykal-Amurian Magistral" in Moscow, Russia.

Levon Barseghyan together with his team of professionals initiated and organized "Asparez" Journalists Club NGO. The organization was established with the goal to provide everyone the right and opportunity to have a freedom of speech. Everyone, irrespective of national, social and religious background, political views, gender, has a chance with "Asparez" to hold a press conference and express his/her thoughts freely and openly. During the past seven years of "Asparez" NGO functioning 700 press conferences, 120 debates were facilitated. The Office provides everyone this possibility free of charge and without any compensation.

During the past 5 years of professional activities "Asparez' has implemented 40 researches and evaluations in the regions of Shirak and Lori to find out the public opinion on the reputation of Government representatives, civil society members and mass media, as well as main concerns and recommendations of the local population. From the very day of its foundation the organization is working on twenty-four-hour functioning basis.

"Asparez" has implemented 25 different projects, 9 of which were grants.

The main objectives of the organization are:

- protect journalists' rights and interests;
- insure freedom of speech;
- organize professional trainings and exchange programs;
- facilitate press conferences and debates;
- provide technical and professional assistance to Mass Media representatives; lead researches;
- create Journalist School and educational centre of Young Journalist;
- found information centre and Mass Media Agency, etc.