Azerbaijan, Baku, November 18/ Trend , corr A. Huseynbala/ Chairman of National Television and Radio Broadcasting Council of Azerbaijan (NTRBC) called on international organizations and ambassadors to respect Azerbaijan's laws.
"If international organizations achieve broadcast of foreign radio stations in Azerbaijan, I will be sorry about it," NTRBC chairman Nushiravan Maharramli told Trend .
NTRBC chairman announced last month that broadcast of foreign radio station in Azerbaijan will be suspended from 2009. NTRBC said the decision is attributable to measures government takes in the sphere of television and radio policy.
At present, US Voice of America, Radio Liberty and BBC radio stations and Turkish TRT TV channel broadcast in Azerbaijan. The contract signed with the above-mentioned radios and TV expires at the end of the year. Frequencies of all foreign radios broadcasting in Azerbaijan are expected to be withdrawn by the end of the year.
David Kramer, US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor began his visit to Azerbaijan today. He is expected to discuss a broad range of issues with senior government, political and civil society representatives including broadcast of foreign radio stations.
The broadcast of foreign radio stations and TV channels should meet requirements of world experience. "Azerbaijan should act in accordance with the US and European experience. Can the countries making these statements permit TV channels of other countries to broadcast on their frequencies," Maharramli said.
"This issue will be discussed with David Kramer, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor in tomorrow's meeting. During the meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State we will once again state that we have made this decision under Azerbaijani laws," NTRBC chairman said.
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