Freedom of word and press and pluralism of thoughts are the key achievements of the independent Azerbaijan, Trend reports stating Azerbaijani Ombudsman Elmira Suleymanova as stating on 21 July to a roundtable on The Role of Press and Establishment of information society. The even was dedicated to the National Journalism Day of Azerbaijan.
Freedom of word and thoughts is an inseparable part of human rights the Ombudsman noted. One of the major directions of the Azerbaijani Ombudsman has always been a work with media, more accent on the defense of journalists rights. During her activities the Azerbaijani Ombudsman has come out with a number of proposals on the improvement of the legislation on media.
Suleymanova also touched upon social rights of journalists, coming out with an initiative on granting journalists with privileged terms of mortgage crediting.
Problems of the national journalism and ways for their resolution was on focus of a speech by Arastun Mehdiyev, the head of the Public-Political Department of the Azerbaijani Presidents Apparat, and the head of the Press Council, Aflatun Amashov. Participants in the roundtable discussed actual problems such as politization of press, and lawsuits on media outlets.