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OSCE Office in Baku holds first conference on development of single information and communication strategy

14 November 2007 12:56 (UTC +04:00)

APA reports that Head of OSCE Office in Baku Jose Luis Herrero Ansola said that the aim of the event is to hold discussions on the development of cooperation between the media and government. Noting that OSCE is closely concerned with the state of media Jose Luis Herrero Ansola said any problem can be solved through dialogue. The diplomat also said that the draft on Single Information and Communication Strategy for press and information services of government agencies is being prepared and its first stage starts today.
Chief of Presidentâ€™s Office socio-political department Ali Hasanov noted that law on freedom of media was adopted in Azerbaijan in 2005. The department chief underlined that discipline should be observed in democratic conditions. He noted that 300-500 newspapers are published in Azerbaijan, but the society itself will choose which of them it needs. The department chief said that the government intends to take serious steps in 2008 to reduce economic dependence of the media. Ali Hasanov said they are working on the single statute of press services.
â€œPress service of every executive body is operating basing on its own statute. We want a single statute for press services, which will be signed by the president. In this case, head of the executive power will also observe this statute,â€ he said.
Ali Hasanov said there are problems concerning qualification of the media.
Representative of OSCE Office in Baku Elshad Farzaliyev presenting project of single information and communication strategy stated that Working Group composed of 7 people will be established for preparing main principles of that strategy, memorandum will be prepared and it will be presented to the second event analogous to todayâ€™s event. Media and government representatives will be among the Working Group, preparation of memorandum will take 7-8 months. APA Information Agency director general Vusala Mahirqizi addressing the discussions said that today working principles of press services thoroughly differs from those of 3 years ago.
â€œIf there was not problem with several press services before, comparison has changed at present,â€ she said.
Vusala Mahirgizi stressing that there is qualification problem among journalists said that several media representatives have serious ethical problems. Director General said that she approves spread of information through centralized system of any executive body.
â€œMedia outlets having no interest in more information, namely journalists-racketeers try to contact with lower structures, as they need no news, but creating artificial sensation related to any problem and earn money instead of it,â€ she said.
State Committee for Securities press service head Shalala Hasanova proposed preparing single information and communication strategy and giving place to state bodiesâ€™ heads knowledge on what the work of press services is composed. He stated that working system of the head of press service depends on the head of that executive body.
Press Council chief Aflatun Amashov spoke about efficiency of the event. Chief said that implementation of accredit system is positive for improving working principle between media and press service. Amashov said that there was qualification problem in media. /APA/