Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 5 / Trend A.Huseynbala /
The National Broadcasting Council of Azerbaijan may prohibit cable broadcasting of foreign television channels that prepares programs against the country.
We will ban cable broadcasting of Euronews and other foreign television channels in Azerbaijan should they continue preparing programs against our country, Chairman of the National Council Nushirevan Maharramli told Trend today.
On Nov. 28, Euronews broadcasted a report "Nagorno-Karabakh - wind of change" by Michael Raikhman, which was very biased and one-sidedly interpreted events in the Karabakh war. The press service of Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry and ruling New Azerbaijan Party sent letters to the management of the TV channel with regards to the reportage.
"In the telecast "Nagorno-Karabakh - wind of change" on Nov. 28 on the Euronews TV channel, was another attempt to confuse the world and European public opinion through presenting reasons and essence of the conflict in accordance with the position of the Armenian side," the letter of protest said.
In this program Nagorno-Karabakh was presented as an "independent country" and the head of the fictitious establishment Bako Saakian as "president of this country". "In addition, Nagorno-Karabakh which was recognized by all international documents and authoritative international organizations as the territory of Azerbaijan and which has no geographical link with Armenia, was described as the "heart" of Armenia.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
The chairman said the council holds a unilateral position on Euronews which considers itself as objective.
"Above all, such actions do not bring respect to the channel. So, we should act within the legal framework," he added.
He said the foreign television channels are broadcasted in the country's territory via the cable, internet or satellite.
"However, we could take some measures against the channels broadcasted via cable. If any foreign television channel continues broadcasting such biased programs, we will demand their cessation," he said.
Maharramli recalled that the legislation on televisions broadcasting specifies the cases when broadcasting of foreign television channels may be interrupted in the country.
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