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Chairman of Azerbaijani Press Council: â€œSigns of splitting are obviously felt in Harasztiâ€™s speechesâ€

10 September 2009 15:49 (UTC +04:00)

It seems that Haraszti is a person expressing the position of a dissatisfied journalist organization, not the representative of OSCE. Signs of splitting are obviously felt in Harasztiâ€™s speeches,â€ chairman of Azerbaijani Press Council Aflatun Amashov told APA while commenting on Miklos Harasztiâ€™s words about the activity of Azerbaijan Press Council.

According to Amashov, Azerbaijani Press Council has been operating since 2003, holds congresses, the leading media representatives determined the persons represented in the central boards of the Council democratically.
â€œI agree with Mr. Haraszti that press councils in various countries of the world have different activities. But i would like the person empowered to express the views of OSCE to pay attention to the working principles of Azerbaijani Press Council and make remarks after that. Of course, different activities of press councils in other countries should also be taken into consideration. In this case he will be able to assess our activity accurately,â€ he said.

Amashov said Miklos Haraszti had never been to the Press Council during his visits to Azerbaijan, nor met with the members of the Management Board of the Council.
â€œI would not like to say what this attitude is sourced from.

Mr. Haraszti holds very narrow meetings in Azerbaijan every time and presents the conclusion he reached at those meetings as a position of such influential organization like OSCE. What causes this? We think to address the OSCE leadership to make the issue clear. I think if Mr. Haraszti meets with the persons covered all specters of the countryâ€™s mass media, he can make valuable proposals for solution of Azerbaijani mediaâ€™s problemsâ€.

Amashov said Haraszti was not aware of many realities of Azerbaijan. â€œEvery person in Azerbaijan has a right to express his/her thoughts and views and to establish his/her organization as well. Mr. Haraszti didnâ€™t make any novelty calling on journalists to establish alternative to the Press Council. There were some attempts like this and we saw how useless those attempts were. Everyone knows what means the Press Council. The society of Azerbaijan has right reaction to all processes, including media developments. The Press Councilâ€™s activity is also in the focus of attentionâ€.

Haraszti said at the press conference on Thursday that the Press Council should protect the journalists. He noted that the Press Council shouldnâ€™t recommend to the government to close any newspaper. â€œThe journalists, who are not satisfied with the Press Councilâ€™s activity, should have a right to establish own oneâ€.

The OSCE representatives said he couldnâ€™t charge the Press Council of Azerbaijan. â€œThe journalists have to make decision to establish the alternative council or notâ€.