Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 12 / Trend A.Huseynbala /
An Azerbaijani parliamentary committee may begin discussing a defamation bill next week.
"It is high time to adopt the bill 'On Defamation,'" Parliamentary Committee on Culture Chairman Nizami Jafarov told Trend news today."Our committee has submitted two drafts and it is possible to develop one perfect document on their basis."
Six media organizations, including New Generation, League of Democratic Journalists, Center for Journalism and Development, Center for Media in Azerbaijan and the Najaf Najafov Fund appealed to parliament this year regarding the adoption of the bill "On Defamation." Later roughly 400 media representatives and journalistic organization members joined the appeal. The bill passed OSCE appraisal.
According to Jafarov, Azerbaijan cannot be satisfied with "discussions at a committee level alone."
"I believe the bill should be discussed in public," he said. "Defining mechanisms to implement the bill's provisions will be the main conditions after its adoption."
The drafts can be perfected only after detailed discussions, Jafarov noted..
"The committee may prepare a third bill on defamation," he said.
The committee will invite the bill's authors and international organization representatives to attend discussions on the draft legislation, he said.
Over 4,000 media outlets are registered in Azerbaijan. Currently only 600 function. Nearly 400 newspapers and magazines are published and over 20 television channels operate. There are 50 electronic media outlets and 20 news agencies.
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