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Media Freedom in the Eastern Partnership countries and Russia discussed in European Parliament - PHOTO

Media Freedom in the Eastern Partnership countries and Russia discussed in European Parliament - <font color=red>PHOTO</font>

07 June 2012 14:12 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Rashad Suleymanov â€“ APA. The European Parliament hosts the seminar for journalists on â€œThe Situation of the News Media in Russia and the Eastern Partnerhsip Countriesâ€ co-organized by the European Parliament and the European Commission. From Azerbaijan, Director General of APA Group Vusala Mahirgizi, Editor-in-Chief of Ayna-Zerkalo newspaper Elchin Shikhli, Professor of Baku State University Gulu Maharramli, Director of Multimedia Information Systems Technologies Center Osman GÃ¼ndÃ¼z, Vice Chairman of the Yeni Nesil Journalists Union Naila Aliyeva and reporter of the Radio Liberty Ulker Akifgizi joined the seminar, APA reports.

Today, a module â€œMedia freedom in the Eastern Partnership countries and Russiaâ€ was held within the framework of the seminar.

Media freedom was in the focus of attention during the Euronest PAâ€™s last session in Baku, the participants noted.

Most of the speakers called the situation in Belarus, which is the partner country, tense and also voiced ideas about the situation of freedom of speech in Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine.

Substitute Member of EP Committee on Foreign Affairs Helmut Scholz said it would be correct to express opinion about the situation in the European Union before focusing attention on the EP countries. He emphasized the situation of media in Italy and Hungary. â€œIndeed nowhere journalists can enjoy a freedom. European institutions want to see the Eastern Partnership countries among their partners and therefore they give much attention to media freedom and development of civil societies in those countriesâ€.

Head of Europe and Central Asia Desk, Reporters without Borders Johann Bihr focused attention on media freedom of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia. He also criticized the situation in Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus. He said that pro-opposition internet resources in Azerbaijan were frequently destroyed and it could be considered as a limitation of internet freedom.

Member of EP Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee Marek Henryk Migalski focused attention on the situation of freedom of speech and problems of journalists in Russia. He said the situation was worse in Moldova and Ukraine and critical in Belarus. Touching upon the situation in the Caucasus region, Migalski said the situation of media in Georgia was better than Azerbaijan and Armenia. However one of the members of Georgian delegation opposed his opinion. He said Georgia was using different methods to prevent media: they donâ€™t give information, despite â€œtransparent organizationsâ€ were established for obtaining government news by the public community, they donâ€™t give information. The journalists are not killed and pressurized, but they are marginalized, they canâ€™t get the facts in Georgia. According to the Georgian journalist, this year two photographers were convicted of spying for Russia. Parliamentary elections are coming on in Georgia and cameras are not allowed to some events. The journalist said that Migalskiâ€™s opinion about Georgia didnâ€™t reflect truth. There were problems with oppositionâ€™s TV campaign. The situation is under the control of the government.

Migalski told the Georgian journalist that it might be an opinion of the pro-opposition journalist, but he wouldnâ€™t change his opinion.

Ukrainian journalists said that there were forces alternative to real opposition and alternative opposition are not allowed to use TV air. Only constructive opposition can use this opportunity.

Chairman of the Azerbaijan Journalists Union Elchin Shikhli pointed out that the development of media in post-soviet countries is same. Speaking about the economic situation in Azerbaijani media, Shikhli said that advertising market is in low level in the country, which worsens the situation of print media and therefore media organizations are searching for ways out. â€œThere can not be a political independence without the economic oneâ€.

There is no obstacle to internet in the country, Shikhli said. He criticized the amendments in the law on obtaining information saying that it could terminate obtaining information.

Osman GÃ¼ndÃ¼z said that there were technical and professional problems with information security in Azerbaijan.

Commissioner responsible for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Å tefan FÃ¼le joining the discussions focused his attention on the issue of Belarus and Moldova. He noted that ensuring media freedom in the Eastern Partnership countries is the principle of EU and EP. They are working for integration of these values into the Eastern Partnership countries and offering their assistance.

FÃ¼le said IT license legalization in Moldova caused serious concern and Moldovan government has been elaborating the draft law on IT license and internet. He noted that Georgia also elaborates a new law on media. FÃ¼le called Russia as a dangerous country for the journalists and said journalists of Ukraine also faced serious problems.

FÃ¼le also spoke about Azerbaijan touching upon blackmailing the journalist and expressing concerns over non-existence of defamation law.

In her speech, Director General of APA Vusala Mahirgizi touched on the licensing of internet in Moldova. She said that this issue was serious and noted that the European Parliament and the European Commission had to work on preventing this problem: â€œThere were negotiations on this issue in Azerbaijan and they are finished. The government announced its support to the free internet. But the licensing of internet in one county can stimulate the same process in others. Thatâ€™s why the issue must be seriously kept in attentionâ€.

Mahirgizi spoke about the amendments made to the law on â€œObtaining informationâ€ and noted that these amendments were adopted after long discussions: â€œThis law was adopted after the Venice Commissionâ€™s recommendations and serious debates held with the participation of the OSCE. The law is enough democratic and effectiveâ€.

Mahirgizi noted the ongoing discussions in the civil society and media due to the amendments. She noted that the parliamentarians substantiate these with the similar laws in the European countries.

She spoke about the internet security and commented on the opinion of Reporters Without Borders representative. She noted that the internet was rapidly developing in Azerbaijan and there was a large advertisement flow to internet media. But there are problems on information, especially the safety of the internet resources: â€œI donâ€™t think that these problems are related to the political position of the internet resources. The internet resources of several state organizations were hacked within several hours several months ago. Anyway, it is impossible to think that this fact was related to the government. The issue is related to the application of new IT. Representatives of the European Commission have stated that the grants will be allocated for developing online-media in the Eastern Partnership countries. In my opinion, it would be a good support to allocate grants for strengthening of technical supply in these countries in the future.

FÃ¼le rejoined the discussions and said that the Eastern Partnership project will defend the human rights, freedom of speech and press in the participating countries: â€œSometimes I hear the talks that why the European Union is satisfied only with the statements and doesnâ€™t demonstrate the firm position? But this partnership is mutual. Thatâ€™s why it is possible to give recommendations in this sphere by observing the basic principles of the Eastern Partnership. We believe that these countries will fulfill their commitments while joining the Eastern Partnership. The governments of these countries understand that fulfillment of these commitments, establishment of civil societies and ensuring freedom of media move these countries to the EU step-by-step. We support the reforms implemented in every participating country.

FÃ¼le said that sometimes the problem of media freedom is related to the professional problems of the journalists. There are several issues in what the journalists show themselves as nonprofessionals: â€œAll issues must be researched. It is unacceptable to assess any small incident as an issue against the freedom of speechâ€.

FÃ¼le also spoke about Azerbaijan: â€œAfter decision to hold the Eurovision in Baku, we told the Azerbaijani government that the country would be in the focus of attention. Azerbaijan had a chance in that period to show that it is open and democratic country. I have read several political writings and talked with the journalists. There are certain problems in the country. But the European Parliament works on continuing the debates with Azerbaijanâ€.

FÃ¼le noted his visit to Moldovaâ€™s capital Chisinau yesterday and said that he met and hold discussions with the representatives of the Eastern Partnership participating states: â€œI needed to hold such discussion after the European Parliamentâ€™s last resolution. We invited the representatives of the partner countries. Azerbaijan was represented by its ambassador to Moldovaâ€.

FÃ¼le underlined that the Council of Europe and the European Parliament would hold discussions with Azerbaijan in Strasbourg next week. He said that these negotiations would focus on effectiveness of cooperation with the European institutes for Azerbaijanâ€.

FÃ¼le added that the European Commission prepared a program on prevention of limitation of internet access. This program will support the development of social networks and new media.