Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr. I.Alizadeh /There are impeding problems in the development of the press in Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in a congratulation letter directed to the participants of the International Conference 'Freedom of speech and press in Azerbaijan within local and international laws'. The conference started in Baku on 19 November. Ali Hasanov, head of the Public Political Department of the Presidential Administration, read out the letter.
Attending the conference were 160 representatives from 20 countries, officials from Azerbaijan and heads of press organizations. The key issue of the conference is the problems concerning the press in Azerbaijan.
The President's letter stated that most measures have been taken in Azerbaijan to regulate relations between the press and public, as well as an improvement in the economic and financial state of Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani Government celebrated the 130th anniversary of national press, and the Council of Press and Public TV and Radio Companies was established.
All these measures strengthened press and increased its role in public life of the country. However, there are still problems impeding development of press.
"Formation and development of independent press, which causes development of democratic society, needs a special approach and responsibility by all corresponding structures," the president added.