Azerbaijan , Baku, May 11 / Trend, M. Aliyev /
Adopting the Defamation Law does not relinquish journalists from accountability , Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Social and Political Department head Ali Hasanov believes .
"Some people believe adopting the Defamation Law in fact exempts journalists from responsibility . But at the same time the law imposes serious responsibility on journalists and media organizations," Hasanov told journalists.
A draft law on Defamation was developed by MPs, media representatives and lawyers with the support of the OSCE Baku Office in 2005.
International organizations believe that Article 147 (defamation) and Article 148 (insult) envisaging criminal liability for insult and slander must be removed from the Criminal Code.
Hasanov said media organizations and their leaders must take greater responsibility in their activities.
"Journalists should improve their professionalism," he said. "Otherwise, we will witness confrontation between journalists and society."