A decision has been made that should any local or foreign TV and radio channel not comply with the Azerbaijani laws they will have their broadcasting or transmission of foreign programs terminated immediately, the Chairman of the Azerbaijan National TV and Radio Council, Nushiravan Maharramli stated at an exclusive interview with Trend.
The termination of illegal transmission of foreign radio stations through local channels leaves the media in an awkward position. From the outset, in several cases, it seems that it has been our decision to discontinue the transmission of radio stations in Azerbaijan. But this is not the case. These foreign radio stations have been transmitting in Azerbaijan within their own frequencies and in frequencies of the local TV channels. This has resulted in the termination of transmission of local TV channels. A decision was made to terminate the transmission as from 1 January. The radio stations BBC and Azadlig which function within their own frequency will continue transmission, Maharramli stated.
According to him, once the cost of new licenses has been confirmed, the issue of licenses, from next year by local and foreign TV and radio channels, will be considered. In our opinion, an interstate contract needs to be signed for the transmission of foreign radio stations. Regarding the BBC and Azadlig stations, we have passed on this information to Great Britain and the USA, he stated, adding that the representatives of the Voice of America and Azadlig radio stations will arrive in Baku on November 8-9.
Maharramli stated that it was impossible for a number of foreign radio stations to be transmitted together. If the foreign radio stations require an additional wave or frequency for the transmission in all territories of the country, then we will provide them with a frequency as a separate channel. For instance, if ANS illegally transmits the Voice of America, Azadlig and BBC , then each TV channel may use this practice and sign a contract with any world-wide channel and carry out the transmission of their programs illegally, he emphasized.
It is our final decision. We will not permit illegal transmissions in ANS, Radio Anten and AZerbaijan, Maharramli concluded.