The former journalist of the US Associated Press news agency, professor of the Washington University, Miron Belkind, being on a visit to Azerbaijan met on 10 and 11 January 2006 with the chairman of the Press Council, Aflatun Amashov and the leaders of some mass media of the country. At the meeting with Amashov the guest has been informed of the present situation in the countrys media and the work performed by the Press Council, Trend reports. Amashov told the guest on the media activities during the latest parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan and the innumerous problems the press is currently facing. Belkind, resting on his personal experience let him know the media problems of many countries are alike. The sides held discussions on finding the ways out of the existing situation.
The next place Belking attended was the Zardabi news centre, where he met with the organizations chairman Ibragim Mammadli. The latter let the guest know that during political actions which took place in regard to the last year parliamentary elections certain facts of pressure on journalists have been recorded. Belkind, touching upon the activities of the organizations for the defense of the media workers rights in the USA said, as the journalism is a dynamic kind of field, the issue is actual for all times.
Belkind had a meeting with the head of the International Euro-Asian Press Foundation Umid Ragimoglu.
On 11 January the American journalist was the guest of the Trend information agency. At the meeting with its director Ilgar Huseynov exchange of views on the situation, activities, the news agencies practice in the Azerbaijan media has been held.
It should be noted, during the week the American guest will hold other meetings with the Azerbaijan media leaders. His visit will be finished late in the week. The visits objective is getting familiar with the journalism in Azerbaijan in the transitional period and assisting in its developing.