BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 8. A conference on “Role of National Leader Heydar Aliyev in Media Development” organized by the Media Development Agency was held at the Heydar Aliyev Center on July 8, Trend reports.
Initially, the participants were acquainted with the exhibition “150 Years of Azerbaijani Press: From History to the Present” organized within the framework of the event.
The exhibition displayed photos of meetings between National Leader Heydar Aliyev and President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev with journalists, publications that occupy an exceptional place in the history of the Azerbaijani press, as well as events of special importance in the development of the media.
Participants of the Conference honored with a minute of silence the memory of the National Leader, Heydar Aliyev, and martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the struggle for independence and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Then, the national anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was sounded.
A video reflecting memories of media representatives about National Leader Heydar Aliyev was also screened at the event.
Speaking at the conference, Executive Director of the Media Development Agency Ahmad Ismayilov stated that the perfect principles of media laid down by National Leader Heydar Aliyev are still reflected in the content of the state's information policy and retain their relevance today.
“After restoration of state independence, Azerbaijan has created wide opportunities to ensure freedom of speech and information, to form a democratic, free press, to create its legal framework, to ensure its economic independence,” he said.
According to him, obstacles restricting pluralism, freedom of speech, and information were removed as a result of political will and the great efforts of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, who returned to power in 1993 at the demand of the people. By the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan of August 6, 1998, the Main Department for Protection of State Secrets in Press and Other Mass Media under the Cabinet of Ministers was abolished, which eliminated censorship of the press and opened new perspectives for the development of the national press.
Ismayilov noted that the improvement of the legislative base regulating media activity, bringing it in line with international standards, and the formation and rapid development of the democratic press in Azerbaijan are directly related to the name of National Leader Heydar Aliyev.
Further, speaking at the event, TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman claimed that it makes sense to hold a conference in November on President Ilham Aliyev's role in media development.
"This November will mark the fifth anniversary of Azerbaijan's truly great victory. People will talk about it, they will write about it. But I would like to address the leadership of Azerbaijan. It makes sense to hold a conference in November on President Ilham Aliyev's role in media development. It will be a very fair and necessary conference," he said.
Gusman emphasized that those interviews given by President Ilham Aliyev during the 44-day Second Karabakh war are the greatest example of fantastic professional journalistic diplomacy.
"I know there is a book with these interviews, but I think it deserves a separate conversation and a separate analysis. I would be happy if there were such a conference. I will ask in advance to participate," he said.
Mikhail Gusman also emphasized Heydar Aliyev's key role in the formation of the Azerbaijani press.
"Then the media, newspapers became much more open, because from the first day as First Secretary of the Central Committee - the head of the republic - Heydar Aliyev paid great attention to the press. Wonderful newspapers were published in Baku: both ‘Baku Worker’ and ‘Communist’ newspapers, which were published in the Azerbaijani language," he said.
According to him, it was the response of professional journalists to the transformations that began in the republic thanks to Heydar Aliyev.
"He, more than anyone, understood the role and importance of the press from day one. I always said: the press and power are like glass. It must be transparent. It should neither distort, exaggerate, nor minimize. Heydar Aliyev has consistently advocated for people to clearly understand the power, its intentions, goals, and what it achieves," Mikhail Gusman emphasized.
He noted that speaking about such a personality on a regional scale, one should understand: there were few such political giants in the history of mankind in general.
"I came to the conclusion that in the XX century, only two people could sincerely say about themselves: ‘I saved my country’. In a personal capacity, only Churchill, before the Second World War, and Heydar Aliyev could say it. These are really two people who, thanks to their will and leadership, saved their countries," Gusman added.
Member of the Azerbaijani Parliament, honored journalist Vugar Rahimzadeh, in turn, noted that journalism is of great importance in the realization of all upcoming tasks.
According to him, the holiday of journalists is also a holiday of civil society.
"We make material that is meant for all people. This holiday is also a holiday of our people. Our National Leader, Heydar Aliyev, attached great importance to the press, as in any sphere. Attention and care for the press has always been one of the priorities of the state.
Journalism is of great importance for the implementation of all forthcoming works. Time has shown that the abolition of censorship was a very important decision. This decision gave impetus to the development of journalism today. Today, Azerbaijani journalism has set a goal of professional activity and continues to succeed in this direction.
Deputy Executive Director of the Media Development Agency, Natig Mammadli, told reporters on the sidelines of the event that National Leader Heydar Aliyev's attitude to the media can serve as a model.
He said Heydar Aliyev was the closest friend of journalists at all stages of his reign and placed great trust in them.
"He always highly valued the profession of a journalist. His communication with journalists, various forms of interaction, and attitude towards the media are a model. Today, Azerbaijani journalists warmly recall the bright and light feelings that the great leader evoked," Natig Mammadli added.
The event was concluded with a round table on “Heydar Aliyev's education policy: the role of education in increasing professionalism of journalists”.
