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Agreement on Broadcasting of Russian TV Channels not Long-Term

Society Materials 30 May 2007 14:41 (UTC +04:00)
Agreement on Broadcasting of Russian TV Channels not Long-Term

Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend corr I. Alizadeh / The agreement to broadcast Russian state TV channel in Azerbaijan is to be signed by 10 July. If not, broadcasting of Russian TV channels in Azerbaijan will be suspended, the Chairman of the Azerbaijani National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting, Nushiravan Maharramli, said on 30 May.

He noted that the agreement on mutual broadcasting between Azerbaijan and Russia could be a 3-5-year term. "However, I think the contract should be signed for a short period and the terms of the contract should be reviewed and renewed every year," the chairman said.

Maharramli noted that in this connection a Working group had been formed of the experts of the Foreign Ministry, Justice Ministry, IT Ministry, and the Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting. The Working group is presently engaged in studying the details, and later, the talks will be continued on a higher level.

Maharramli said that Baku had already disclosed its principal position and defined the terms for the broadcasting of a Russian TV channel in Azerbaijan, and vice versa. "Our position is that should a Russian TV channel be broadcast in Baku, an Azerbaijani TV channel will in turn be broadcasted in Moscow. The expenditure for broadcasting of the Azerbaijani channel in the Russian capital city will be met by the Russian side and the expenditures of the Russian Channel in Baku will be met by Azerbaijan," He noted.

"Similar practices are used worldwide. Digital technology has enabled people to watch foreign TV channels by cable network, satellite broadcasting or the Internet. For this reason ground facilities have lost their value," he added.

According to the chairman, a state TV channel of Azerbaijan will be broadcast in Russia and a Russian state TV channel will be broadcasted in Azerbaijan (RTR).

"The state can undertake the responsibility only for its own channel," Maharramli summed up.

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