Baku, Azerbaijan, July 21
By Elchin Mehdiyev – Trend:
The state is rendering enough support to the media in Azerbaijan, said deputy executive secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, MP Siyavush Novruzov.
He made the remarks addressing an event dedicated to the National Press Day (July 22) at the headquarters of the New Azerbaijan Party July 21.
“Azerbaijan has the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, over a million of refugees and IDPs, and the Azerbaijani media play an important role in covering all these issues and conveying them to international community,” added Novruzov.
Noting that the National Press Day is marked every year as a nationwide holiday, he said everyone gets information through the media.
“We saw the role of the media during the recent coup attempt in Turkey,” said Novruzov. “If the people and police are strong, the media are doubly strong.”
He further said that during 1990s, when a coup attempt took place in Azerbaijan, the National Leader Heydar Aliyev addressed the people through the media, and thereby, the coup attempt was prevented.
“This method was used in Turkey as well. The role of the media is irreplaceable in such matters,” he added.
Novruzov also pointed out that the media are improving.
“The ruling New Azerbaijan Party sufficiently relied on the media during all elections held in Azerbaijan,” he said. “President Ilham Aliyev has appealed to the Constitutional Court on holding a referendum, and therefore, this year will be very topical for the Azerbaijani media.”
At the end of the event, a number of journalists were awarded on behalf of the New Azerbaijan Party.