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Representative of Presidential Administration: â€œThose, who say that Azerbaijan doesnâ€™t protect freedom of speech and press, are mistaken or biasedâ€

16 May 2012 10:45 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Parvin Abbasov â€“ APA. â€œFreedom of speech and press are fully protected in Azerbaijan. Those, who say that Azerbaijan doesnâ€™t protect freedom of speech and press, are mistaken or biasedâ€, said sector chief of public policy department of the Presidential Administration Vugar Aliyev in his speech at the international conference on the theme of â€œHuman rights in Azerbaijan: current problems and future prospectsâ€: â€œI have never seen such politicization of the Eurovision song contest. However the Eurovision song contest in Azerbaijan is being politicized. But this is a cultural event and musical contest. Western and local opposition press try to form a negative image on Azerbaijan around the Eurovision song contest and it is not absolutely correct. It was claimed that the right of property of 60 000 people were violated. If so, why the opposition couldnâ€™t gather more than 2000 people?â€

Vugar Aliyev said that the government of Azerbaijan protected and will continue protecting freedom of press in the country.

The sector chief noted that about 40 daily newspapers, more than 200 weekly and monthly newspapers, about 100 magazines and 52 online media outlets are working in the country. He underlined the work carried out toward ensuring freedom of speech and press of more than 30 journalistic organizations.

Aliyev also spoke about the steps taken for the normal activity of press in Azerbaijan. He noted that the press was exempted from VAT, customs duty for paper was not applied, residential building was constructed for the journalists, AZN 450,000-debt of Azerbaijan Publishing House was written off.

PA representative also explained the biggest problem of Azerbaijanâ€™s press: â€œThe biggest problem is that economical independence of the press is very weak. The press, which has no economical independence, is always under the various organizations.â€

Vugar Aliyev and journalist Khadija Ismayilova quarreled in the event. Aliyev responded Ismayilovaâ€™s accusations on the restriction of freedom of speech and press in Azerbaijan and said: â€œIf Azerbaijan had no freedom of speech and press, you would not be able to write such articles.â€

PA representative also underlined that the government of Azerbaijan always condemns pressures against journalists.