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What media representatives expect from the 5th Congress of Azerbaijani Journalists? â€“ Poll

What media representatives expect from the 5th Congress of Azerbaijani Journalists? <font color=red>â€“ Poll </font>

19 June 2008 13:56 (UTC +04:00)

Chairman of Azerbaijan Journalistsâ€™ Union Elchin Shikhli said that he expected nothing extraordinary from the congress. Elchin Shikhli did not want to comment on the change to the Statute on increasing the tenure of the Press Councilâ€™s chairman beforehand and noted that he did not want this change.
â€œUnder the present circumstances solution of some issues needs time. What do I mean? For example, concept for state support to media should be adopted. I expect much from this document. Depending on the form of adoption of the draft concept it will be possible to work. Thatâ€™s why if chairman and Management Board of the Press Council is replaced the draft concept will be neither considered nor adopted. Otherwise we have a chance to adopt it and work. Actually, under other circumstances I would not support change of the Statute. The solution of this issue depends on the voting. Letâ€™s wait,â€ he said.
Elchin Shikhli considers that there will be more than one candidate for the Press Council chairmanship.
â€œThere may be and actually have to rivals. Everything depends on the congress,â€ he said.
Chairman of â€œYeni Nesilâ€ Journalistsâ€™ Union Arif Aliyev wants Azerbaijani journalists to find power in themselves.
â€œThe journalists should show that it is inadmissible to play with this organization and change its Statute. I am sure that this congress will also show that Azerbaijani journalists are serious persons. I think the Statute will not be changed. Anyway, the change will not allow a person to hold the post as long as he wants. Arif Aliyev considers that another man, not Aflatun Amashov may be elected chairman of the Press Council.
â€œNobody wants to announce his candidacy now, though some persons are mentioned as nominees. The names will be announced at the congress,â€ he said.
Arif Aliyev refutes the reports that he has pretension to the chairmanship.
â€œI could put forward my candidacy in the first congress and could be elected chairman, but I did not want it. I stick to my opinion. I played a greater role in the formation of the council, and therefore I do not want people to think that I established an organization for myself. I am thinking of some candidates. I think they will put forward their candidacy and I speak in favor of them,â€ he said.
â€œIf the Press Council passes such decisions, I do not want to be its member,â€ he said.
Arif Aliyev noted that change of the Statute in the congress would cause discontent.
Editor-in-chief of Yeni Musavat Newspaper Rauf Arifoghlu underlined that he expected nothing good from the congress.
â€œI think the relations will become sharp and the media camp will be separated. I am thinking of a way out. If I find a model, I will tell my friends about it. I will make up my mind whether to participate in the congress on the last day,â€ he said.
Rauf Arifoghlu said that there would be no consensus in the congress and the media camp would be separated.
â€œIt worries me,â€ he said.
The editor-in-chief, who had offered to establish an organization alternative to the Press Councilâ€ said he discussed it with some media representatives.
â€œI do not want to name them. There is an idea and the processes are going towards it,â€ he said.
Deputy chairman of the Press Council Gulu Maharramli, who is mentioned as a candidate for chairmanship, said that he had not thought of putting forward his candidacy yet.
â€œEverything may be assessed in the concrete situation. I have got neither a pretension, nor an idea about it. The influence of the Press Council is important for me now. Letâ€™s think about this influence and international image of the Press Council. We should support principles, not individuals,â€ he said.
Gulu Maharramli also said that he expected nothing serious or interesting from the congress under the certain circumstances.
â€œThe congress may make both changes and annexes to the Statute. But making this change under these circumstances damages the prestige of the main organization of Azerbaijani journalists. Thatâ€™s why I want the participants of the congress to be attentive,â€ he said.
â€œ525th newspaperâ€s editor-in-chief Rashad Majid wishes the congress to be calm and restrained. â€œWe shall see developments. I wished the congress to bring advantages to our journalism and to hold discussions toward the solution of the problemsâ€.
Majid said if the congress would make amendments to the Press Councilâ€™s Charter, Aflatun Amashov would be re-elected the Councilâ€™s chairman again. â€œThere can be other candidates in other version. I think the chairmanâ€™s mandate should be 4 years in very beginning to carry out the started works. Now most of these works remain unfinished. We are expecting for the concept of governmentâ€™s support to the press. In this context Amashovâ€™s chairmanship for one year more will be to the benefit of our common job. Anyway there can be unexpected developments at the congressâ€.
Chairman of the Democratic Journalists League Yadigar Mammadli said no unexpected and extraordinary developments would happen at the congress. â€œMay be this congress will be more alive. In deed we want the congress not to be lifeless, but to differ from the previous congresses for its resolutionsâ€. Mammadli said other candidates could also be nominated alongside with Amashov to the Press Council chairmanship, but he didnâ€™t show concrete names.
APA director general Vusale Mahirgizi said she didnâ€™t expect any special event from this congress. She expects for the positive solution of the issue related to the amendments to the Charter. â€œMost of the Azerbaijani journalists seem to support the amendments. Anyway all these questions will find their answers at the congressâ€. Mahirgizi said she opposed the discussions of the amendments based only on the Amashovâ€™s personality. â€œFirst of all, it is general question of prolongation of the Councilâ€™s leadership mandate. Second. This amendment will come to agenda for the next time if it will not be made now because 2 years are not enough for realization of all ideas. One year is spent only for the chairmanâ€™s introduction and establishing of relations. Another year is spent for preparations to the next congress and the mandate expires. If we look at the all elected bodies we can see that shortest mandate is at least 4 yearsâ€.
Chairman of the Press Council Aflatun Amashov didnâ€™t say anything about the congress development and discussions there before the congress, but noted that Azerbaijani journalists would make the decision they considered necessary. Regarding the amendment for the prolongation of governing bodiesâ€™ mandate, Amashov said it was not correct to define 2â€“year mandate for the chairman. â€œTwo years are quite less. There can be certain problems in the realization of all scheduled works. It is not a question of mine only. Generally the mandate of chairman should be prolonged about 4 years. I donâ€™t see any undemocratic thing there because the Charter allows such amendment. Anyway this issue will be discussed at the congress. It will depend on the votes. We established the Press Council and the organization is on the eve of implementation of the projects. The press has quite enough problems and it needs to do huge work for elimination of these problems. I have opportunities to do it. If they will entrust me I would like to complete this work. It will be to my liking. Naturally I donâ€™t want to stay at the Press Council and I want only to complete the started work and to make the council more quick organizationâ€.
Amashov said alternatives were unavoidable if it would be amended to the Charter. â€œOnce the Press Council hadnâ€™t its office and wasnâ€™t popular and there was calmness. In the opening of the Press Councilâ€™s building one of my friends told me â€œAmashov you can face with serious rivalsâ€. I accepted it as a joke. Of course, we have done much work. We sent about 40 letters to the relative organizations to have a building and sought location for the office for long time. There is a council and it can make its contribution. In this case peoples can intend to be chairman. It is natural. All things depend on the congress. Journalists will elect that person, whom they trust more than others. I think the Press Council is one the most democratic institutions, which unites all layers of the society. I wish us always to be an example and to stay like thisâ€.