Azerbaijan, Baku, 20 February / Trend corr K. Ramazanova / The Council of Europe (CE) intends to improve journalistic professionalism in Azerbaijan.
"We always pay attention to journalistic qualification, independence of broadcasting organizations, and media self-regulation mechanisms in Azerbaijan," Franziska Klopfer, an employee at the Directorate General of Human Rights' Media Division, said in Baku on 19 February.
According to Klopfer, in the near future the Council of Europe and European Commission will commence implementation of a 2-year program intended for Azerbaijan's mass media. Workshops and training will take place within the framework of the program.
Discussions cover all media fields and serious reforms are envisaged, Arif Aliyev, the head of the Council of Journalists of Azerbaijan, said to Trend.
"We discussed the media changes which are needed to enable journalists to act as protectors of social values and to be independent and responsible," he said.
A report on the results of the discussions will be produced within a month.
The CE mission is visiting Baku between 19 and 22 February to discuss media issues. During the visit the experts will hold meetings and negotiations with state officials, Parliament members, as well as representatives of the local media and NGOs. European experts will define the needs of Azerbaijani journalism.
The priority fields of the 2-year partnership program will be defined.