Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr S. Aghayeva / Ann Dersy, the United States' Ambassador to Azerbaijan, said to journalists on 8 May that the United States were calling on Azerbaijani authorities to exclude the article providing punishment of journalists for their articles from the Criminal Code. "Such cases of using violence towards journalists, prosecution and battery, should be seriously investigated," the Ambassador said.
According to Ms Dersy, the United Sates share the concern of international organizations about the detention of five journalists. "We hope that civil society, the media and authorities of Azerbaijan will do their best for the development of journalism in Azerbaijan and the provision of freedom of press," the Ambassador stressed.
The United States believes that free press is of fundamental importance and the government is a guarantor for it, she said. "Press has great prestige with developed countries. Thus, it should be professional, unbiased and neutral. Azerbaijan has vast potential for leadership in the region. Steps made towards democracy are of great importance in connection to this," Ms Dersy added.
Several journalists in Azerbaijan have been made answerable for their press articles. The OSCE, the Council of Europe and other international organizations are concerned on this occasion.