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Parliament discusses state of media and journalistsâ€™ arrest

07 December 2007 12:51 (UTC +04:00)

Parliamentarian Panah Huseyn noted the necessity of releasing the journalists.
â€œState of media and freedom of assembly is violated in Azerbaijan. Baku Mayorâ€™s Office did not sanction the journalistsâ€™ rally where they want without showing any reasons,â€ he said.
Panah Huseyn expressed his dissatisfaction that the bill on education is not debated.
â€œFall session is about to end, but the bill has not been presented to discussion,â€ he said.
Gudrat Hasanguliyev touched on the issue on Nagorno Karabakh. The parliamentarian said when Azerbaijan was admitted to the Council of Europe, all political forces of the country undertook commitment to support peaceful solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
â€œWe state that Azerbaijanâ€™s territorial integrity will be restored sooner or later, but we do not exclude the military way. In this case, the opposition should at least withdraw its signatures from the Council of Europe. The opposition is free. Why should the opposition bear this load?â€ he said.
Igbal Agazadeh said 36,000 IDPs were cut off phone service on the same day and considered it necessary to make it clear. Arzu Samadbayli wanted the parliament to take a stance on the situation in Nakhchivan.
Parliamentâ€™s speaker Ogtay Asadov first took a stance on the arrest of journalists.
â€œSome journalists write whatever they want. Writing nonsense will pay dividends neither to the journalist, nor to the country. None of the imprisoned journalists has been arrested for his professional activity. I am not aware of the journalistsâ€™ appeal to Baku Mayorâ€™s Office for holding rally. I will investigate it and answer,â€ he said.
First vice-speaker of Azerbaijani Parliament Ziyafat Asgarov said in the response to Gudrat Hasanguliyevâ€™s proposal that Azerbaijan tries for the peaceful solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
â€œUN Charter shows that every state has right of ensuring its territorial integrity. That is why Azerbaijan does not rule out war,â€ he said.
Ziyafat Asgareov said that he supports investigation of motive in the imprisonment of journalists.
â€œThis issue should not be commented with subjective criteria. If law on defamation is adopted, journalists will insult all. There is no notion of political prisoner in the world. Those who speak about this issue aim at intervening in the actions of Azerbaijan. European Court of Human Rights makes decision for the benefit of some people. We should confess that several rules of procedures, legislation have been violated,â€ he said.
Mr. Asgarov called several rights defenders â€œdealers of human rightsâ€.
First vice-speaker clarifying issue on the recognition of PKK as a terrorist organization in Azerbaijani Parliament mentioned that Azerbaijani and Turkish Presidents signed joint â€œBaku Declarationâ€.
â€œParliament will ratify that document. Azerbaijan supports Turkey in fighting against PKK. Azerbaijan also suffers from terrorism. There is no need to search agiotage in this issue,â€ he said.
YAP Executive Secretary Ali Ahmedov said that they want pardon of imprisoned journalists.
â€œBut journalists should also observe rules in their turnâ€.
Siyavush Novruzov commenting on Arzu Samadbayliâ€™s opinions regarding Nakhchivan said that they are not true.
â€œNakhchivan is typical European city,â€ he said.
Isa Habibbayli said that correspondent of â€œAzadliqâ€ radio was not detained for professional activity.
â€œHe was detained for intervention in pulling construction down. Journalist like Jalil Mammadguluzada is from Nakhchivan. That is why Nakhchivan people appreciate journalists,â€ he said. /APA/