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OSCE Commissioner Discusses Azeri Media Situation and its Prospects

Society Materials 10 October 2006 15:00 (UTC +04:00)

We discussed, with the OSCE Commissioner for Freedom of Speech, Miklosh Harashti the general situation of mass media in Azerbaijan, prospects of their development and changes occurring in Europe and their application in Azerbaijan, the Head of the Public Relations Department of the Azerbaijani President's Apprat Ali Hasanov told on October 10 after meeting with the OSCE Commissioner, Trend reports.

He noted that during Harashti's meeting yesterday (October 9) with the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, he made a series of proposals. I also replied to these questions. In addition, we discussed the forthcoming joint work of Azerbaijan with OSCE Commissioner for Freedom of Speech. The adoption of the law On defamation remains as the most tangible topic today. We support the opinion that it is too early to adopt this law in Azerbaijan, Hasanov underlined.

According to him, at present Baku may make other changes to the legislation, for instance, administrative measures to be taken during punishment for insulting one's honor and dignity.

The state officials met a reduction in the number of appeals to the courts regarding journalists. Some changes may be made with regard to the arrest of journalists. But we cannot adopt the law On defamation as offered by them because it may lead to dire consequences, Hasanov said.

According to him, this law has not been adopted in many countries of the Council of Europe yet. Azerbaijan always positively reacts to the proposals of the Council of Europe, Hasanov emphasized.

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