Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend I.Alizade / Freedom of word and press are fundamental values for the Council of Europe and these freedoms should be provided, Denis Bribosia, the Secretary general of the Council of Europe, said on 19 November.
"Provision of freedom of word and democratic societies is one of the major issues. It assumes great significance for the future of Azerbaijan," he said.
Nine journalists have been arrested in Azerbaijan for their professional activities. The major part was arrested for insult and slander. The last arrested is Ganimat Zahid, the editor-in-chief of the Azadlyg newspaper.
A two-day international conference on freedom of word and press in the context of local and international laws began in Baku on 19 November. The participating in the forum are the officials of Azerbaijan heads of press organizations, public representatives and around 160 representatives from 20 countries. The event focused on state and problems of the Azerbaijani press.
Bribosia said that freedom of word is raised in Azerbaijan in different contexts. "Let's be brave and put forward the difficulties exiting in this sphere in an open way. We do not identical policy in the sphere of freedom of word," he addressed to the participants in the conference.