Media

Media

International conference on â€œInternational Conference - Media Ethics, Transparency and Editorial Independenceâ€ kicks off - PHOTOSESSION

International conference on â€œInternational Conference - Media Ethics, Transparency and Editorial Independenceâ€ kicks off -<font color=red> PHOTOSESSION </font>

02 March 2011 08:26 (UTC +04:00)

Foreign and local experts, leaders of Mass medias the representatives of journalist organizations, state officials and socio-political figures attend the conference which is organized within the framework of â€œEthical Journalism Initiatives - Azerbaijanâ€ project conducted by the International Federation of Journalists, the International Eurasia Press Fund, the Democratic Journalists League, the Trade Union of Journalists and â€œRUHâ€ Committee for Protection of Azerbaijani Journalists.

Chairman of the Trade Union of Journalists, coordinator â€œEthical Journalism Initiatives - Azerbaijanâ€ project Mushvig Alasgarli welcomed the guests and said that the vent was held with the financial support of the European Commission.

In his speech, Chairman of Azerbaijanâ€™s Press Council Aflatun Amashov touched the problems of stateâ€™s media. He reminded the death of such journalists as Salatin Asgarova, Chingiz Mustafayev and Elmar Huseynov. Amashov reminded the anniversary of Huseynovâ€™s death expressed his confidence that his death would be solved and the criminals would be punished.
Oliver Money-Kyrle, Assistant General Secretary of the International Federation of Journalists: â€œDivision is seen between the government and opposition medias. The media is not professional in Azerbaijan, it has been politicizedâ€.

Deputy Chief of the Public Policy Department of the Presidential Administration Arastun Mehdiyev reminded that censor was abolished in Azerbaijan in 1998 and appropriate steps were taken in this direction. To him, Azerbaijani government cooperates with international organizing in this direction. He noted that over 4300 mass media and mote than 50 information agencies were registered in Azerbaijan: â€œOf course, increase of quantity is not the increase of quality. But increase of quantity impacts on qualitative indexes tooâ€.

Mehdiyev said that today there was need for freedom of speech: â€œBut freedom of speech must be just and objective. From this viewpoint, we have to do much workâ€.

Chairman of State Support Fund for the Development of Mass Media under Azerbaijani President Vugar Safarli noted the importance of the event, wished successes to participants.
Representative of the OSCE Office in Baku Jacqueline Carpenter said that the topic of the event was important from the standpoint of freedom of speech and OSCE obligations.

Representative for the EUâ€™s Azerbaijani representation Fuad Huseynov spoke about the importance of the event. He noted the significance of constructive cooperation of civil society representatives with the government.

Thereafter, Alasgarli gave detailed information on project â€œEthical Journalism Initiatives - Azerbaijanâ€.

The event is continued.