Azerbaijan, Baku, May 2 / Trend M. Aliyev /
For 20 years of Azerbaijan's independence, the foundation of various areas' development has been laid, and one of such foundations is securing society's information freedom, Head of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration's Social and Political Department Ali Hasanov said today at the conference on "Azerbaijani media: current situation and future challenges".
The conference was organized by the Azerbaijani Mass Media State Support Fund, National Television and Radio Council and the Press Council on the eve of the World Press Freedom Day celebrated on May 3.
"The censorship abolished by Azerbaijani national leader Heydar Aliyev laid the foundation for future development of the media in the country," Ali Hasanov said.
He noted that after the censorship was abolished, the press and public were left face to face.
"Not all media representatives are educated journalists, following ethical norms," he said. "Therefore, there were a lot of trials. Eventually, everything settled down. Azerbaijan is aimed at the formation of free media and freedom of speech. No journalist in Azerbaijan can say that he has collected information about some incident and has been forbidden to spread it."
"Everybody can do journalism work and the country will not allow putting restrictions for such people.
Hasanov also spoke about challenges that media faces.
"The media must get rid of the politicization trend," he said. "Currently, the state-owned, opposition, independent and racket media operate in the country. The main goal is to direct media's activity to a normal course."
Hasanov added that one of the objectives is to increase the professionalism of journalists.
"According to the defamation conditions, public norms must be more observed than now," he said. "Either media must be attentive to these issues or we will not be able to create these conditions. Perhaps, the appropriate courses should be created."
Hasanov also stressed the need to get rid of racket journalism, and journalists who form their activity on the basis of threats.
Touching upon the improvement of logistics base of the media, Hasanov touched on the issue of transparency of state assistance rendered to the media.
"I promise you that the distribution of houses being constructed for journalists will be delivered transparently," he said. "This distribution will be provided only to worthy journalists."
Chairman of the Azerbaijani Press Council Aflatun Amashev also spoke at the conference, about the history of World Press Freedom Day at the conference.
"The UN statements on freedom of media in the world say that the governments must not restrict the freedom of information," he said.
Stressing the existence of free press in the country, Amashev said that the public is informed about all the current events in the country and there are no restrictions in this regard.
"Today in Azerbaijan there are no restrictions in informing the public about the ideas and opinions of citizens," he said.
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