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Aflatun Amashov: â€œIt is time to determine the legal status of Press Councilâ€

16 May 2008 11:32 (UTC +04:00)

They are preparing and sending letters to the Press Council member Mass Medias. The process will be completed in timeâ€, Aflatun Amashov, Chairman of the Press Council of Azerbaijan told APA, responding the question about the preparations for the Councilâ€™s next congress. He said Governing Body would consist of 9 journalists and 6 representatives of public community in the congress. Names of 27 journalists and 18 representatives of public community will be included in voting ballots. They will be selected in terms of responds of founder media organizations to the letters. The Organizing Committee considers participation of two representatives from daily newspapers, news agencies and journalist organizations and one â€“ from weekly and monthly newspapers and magazines. One of the important factors confirming relations between the founder media organizations and the Press Council is their membership fees. Amashov said this issue was described in the Chapter too.
â€The situation has improved in this field in comparison with previous years. However, there are some founders who have not paid membership fees since the establishing of the Council. Unfortunately there are well-known publications among them. Of course, the congress will be held in accordance with the Chapter. I think they will pay membership fees in the upcoming period and will have a right to attend the congressâ€. Responding the question about the prognosis of competitiveness in the congress Amashov reminded that it would be the fifth congress of the Council. â€œDonâ€™t think that developments were going calmly in others. You can see enough materials in periodical press about the disputes, discussions and arguments. All truths and proposals appeared during the intensive meetings. I would like to see upcoming congress to take such course. I believe that the congress will be held in efficient atmosphere and will made quality changes in the development of national journalism and the Press Council as well. In that case, I would like to express opinion on competitiveness, we face frequently now. First of all, I would like to note that competitiveness is always accompanied by the tensions and congresses regulate all claims. I think it is not correct to review the issue in the context of competitiveness only. Anyway the congress will say the last word.
Asked about the investigation into the case in connection with Azadlig newspaper correspondent Agil Khalil, chairman of the Press Council said the representative of the council was present in the recent interrogation in General Prosecutorâ€™s Office Department for Investigation of Grave Crimes on May 14.
â€œThe process was normal. The journalist answered the inspectorâ€™s questions. I think none of the sides was dissatisfied. As regards, Agil Khalilâ€™s leaving the country, I think there is no problem here. He is a sufferer, not the defendant. He gave testimony. If he has problems in leaving the country, the Press Council can help him,â€ he said.
Aflatun Amashov also commented on the recent amendments to the law on media outlets. He said after the recent amendments, it is obvious that the disputable 10th section of the 9th item of the law still remains.
â€œThis section gives authority of the relevant executive body to the Press Council. According to the section, the Press Council can bring a suit for closing the media outlets, which are not published 12 times a year, have less than 100 copies and have no permanent name and other necessary attributes. We discussed these issues in the 4th congress of journalists. The adopted ruling showed that issue would be raised before the related bodies. The other issue was sending compulsory copies of the print media outlets published in the country to the Press Council. The third amendment envisages rules of using the names of government agencies while establishing new media outlet. I should say that one of the peculiar features of the recent amendment is that it allows combating racketeering journalism. Over 3000 newspapers have been registered. Most of these newspapers are not published. The representatives of these newspapers go to the regions, big enterprises, blackmail citizens and heads of companies, organizations. The majority of the complaints received by the council are about itâ€¦ According to the document, Press Council is a relevant executive body. According to its status, the Press Council is a public organization. Taking all this into account, we plan to set up a working group of lawyers by the congress. Independent experts, specialists of the Presidentâ€™s Executive Office, Justice Ministry and other bodies will be involved here. It seems it is high time to determine the legal status of the Press Council,â€ he said.