Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 21 / Trend News A. Huseynbala /

Claims of the international organizations due to restrictions on broadcasting of foreign radio stations in Azerbaijan are groundless, Azerbaijan's National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting chairman said.

"The organization Human Rights Watch states that the suspension of broadcasting the foreign radio stations on the FM-waves is a violation of human rights. I think these claims are quite wrong. Broadcasting the foreign radio stations was suspended only at FM-waves in Azerbaijan", the National Television and Radio Council Chairman Nushiravan Maharramli said.

The last Human Rights Watch's report on the human rights situation in the world stressed further worsening of the situation in the field of human rights in Azerbaijan.

The Council's decision to suspend broadcasting of foreign radio stations on the national frequencies was cited as one of the reasons.

According to Maharramli, the Council supports the broadcasting of foreign radio stations in Azerbaijan by other ways.

"As BBC, France International held the talks for us to support these radio stations broadcasting through the cable network", he said.

Maharramli has not excluded the possibility that such support will be rendered.

"As this broadcasting is commercial, both sides must be trained. We do not create any obstacles to broadcast the foreign radio stations in Azerbaijan by other ways. We do not intend to do it," Maharramli said.

According to the chairman, broadcasting of foreign radio stations in Azerbaijan can be extended through both the Internet and cable networks.

The Council has decided to suspend the broadcasting of foreign radio stations at national frequencies since January 1, 2009.

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