Azerbaijan, Baku, August 11 / Trend T. Hajiyev /
Professional ethics of journalists will be changed in Azerbaijan, chairman of the Press Council Aflatun Amashov told Trend.
"We are cooperating with the OSCE in two directions. The first of them is the improvement of professional ethics of journalists, second - preparation of the draft law 'Defamation', Amashov said.
He said that there is a need to improve the rules of professional ethics of journalists.
"The norms of professional ethics in Azerbaijan have decorative nature and consist of the thesis. We have to deepen some points because we encounter cases in which the rules of ethics are combined with the general principles. We can not determine which of the ethical norms is violated, " Amashov said.
Norms of professional ethics of journalists were taken in Azerbaijan March 15, 2003 at the first congress of Azerbaijani journalists.
He said that there are some proposals.
"Today we support relationships with international experts, with whom we cooperate in this area. They made their proposals. Some of these proposals coincide with the points of professional ethics of Azerbaijani journalists, and some do not coincide. Now we are discussing these issues," Amashov said.
He said that a series of activities related to the discussion of those proposals will be organized.
He spoke about the situation related to the discussion of the draft law "Defamation".
"If we follow the integration into Europe, sooner or later we must also accept the draft law on 'Defamation'. But this law has not been adopted in many European countries. Great Britain adopted it this year. However, the process is held across Europe and ultimately, this law will be adopted in all countries, "Amashov said.
The draft law on 'Defamation' was prepared in 2005 with the support of the OSCE Office in Baku. The working group dealing with its preparation includes MPs Ganira Pashayeva, Azay Guliyev, representatives of media organizations and lawyers.
International organizations think article 147 (libel) and 148 (insult), envisaging criminal liability for insult and slander must be removed from the Penal Code.
Six media organizations - Association of Azerbaijani Journalists, Najaf Najafov Foundation, Center for Journalism and Development, Association of Journalists New Generation, Azerbaijan media centre and the League of Democratic Journalists appealed to the Azerbaijan Parliament in May 2009 concerning with the adoption of the bill on 'Defamation'. About 400 media representatives and members of media organizations joined this appeal.