Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend S.Ilhamgizi / On 3 September Thomas Hammerberg, the Council of Europe (CE) Commissar on human rights, met with Nushiravan Maharramli, the Chairman of the National Council of Radio and Television, and Gulu Maharramli, the Deputy Chairman of the Azerbaijani Council of Press.
The CE Commissar took interest in the television and radio broadcasting and media situation in the country, On the same day he had a meeting with the chairman of the State Committee on Work with Religious Bodies of Azerbaijan, representatives from religious bodies and local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs). As a result of the meetings held in Baku he will develop a report on the human rights situation in Azerbaijan. To make the report objective he will become familiar with the opinions from all sides. During the week the CE official is going to meet with Government officials to become familiar with their positions.
Maharramli stated that during the meeting with the CE official he spoke about innovations in the television and radio broadcasting, opening of new television channels, the economic problems experienced by television channels and the fragile advertisement market. He noted the importance of ceasing broadcasting of foreign television channels in Azerbaijan and advised Hammerberg of the reasons for closing down the local television and radio channel ANS last year.
Maherramli said that Hammerberg was informed of the current state of the media and press in Azerbaijan, the reasons for the arrest of several journalists in the country and the economic state of the newspaper.