Clinton: Armenia leaders are open to removing some restrictions from a new media law

Clinton: Armenia is open to liberalizing media law

YEREVAN, Armenia — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is telling Armenian human rights activists that government leaders told her they are open to liberalizing a recently enacted law restricting radio and TV journalists.

Clinton said Monday she was given the assurance in a meeting with President Serge Sarkisian.

At a reception for Armenian rights groups representatives at a Yerevan arts center, Clinton said she wanted to encourage them to overcome the difficulties and frustrations of pushing their government to fully respect the right of free expression.

Earlier, Clinton paid her respects for the estimated 1.5 million Armenians who were killed during the final days of the Ottoman empire in what much of the world labels a genocide. Later Monday, she was flying to Tbilisi, Georgia.