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Divergence in Azerbaijani Press Council

11 April 2008 16:48 (UTC +04:00)

This is connected with amendments to the Statute of the Press Council and prolongation of the chairmanâ€™s tenure. Some of the council members want amendments to the Statute and prolongation of the chairmanâ€™s tenure. The others do not want the Statute to be changed and offer the election of new chairman. Those, who offer amending the Statute want the present chairman Aflatun Amashov to remain in his post. Deputy Chairman of the Press Council Gulu Maharramli said the next election congress would be held late in June early in July. According to him, the issue on electing Chairman of Press Council would also be on the agenda. Gulu Maharramli commented on divergence among the members of the Press Council.
â€œSome members of the council want the Statute to be amended, others say there is no need for it. Some members of the Press Council want Aflatun Amashovâ€™s tenure to be prolonged. The other side says the Statute of the Press Council is determined by the congress and there is no need to prolong the chairmanâ€™s tenure. These are only considerationsâ€, he said.
â€œSevelopment of the Statute by separate individuals is unacceptable. The Statute should prevent such cases. Four years, and under present circumstances five-year tenure is enoughâ€, member of the Press Council Arif Aliyev told APA.
Arif Aliyev does not consider that Azerbaijani journalists will support such an amendment.
Other member of the Press Council Management Board Rashad Majid said the Statute would be amended in the congress and Aflatun Amashovâ€™s tenure would be prolonged.
â€œOnly the figure showing tenure will be changed in the Statute. 2 will be replaced by 3,4 or 5 and Aflatun Amashov will be re-elected Chairman of the Press Council. We consider that Aflatun Amashovâ€™s activity was satisfactory and he should be given more time to workâ€, Rashad Majid said.