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â€œRUHâ€ Committee for Protection of Journalists: Presentation of the award â€œFriend of journalistsâ€ is based on abuse and plagiarism

24 July 2008 16:59 (UTC +04:00)

â€œRUHâ€ Committee for Protection of Journalists instituted the award â€œFriend of journalistsâ€ in Azerbaijan. All the rights belong to this organization. Some organizationsâ€™ presenting the award â€œFriend of journalistsâ€ is based on abuse and plagiarism. Thatâ€™s why we intend to appeal to the State Copyright Agency,â€ executive director of â€œRUHâ€ Committee for Protection of Journalists Evez Rustamov told APA. He said that presentation of the award is reflected in the Statute.
â€œThe winners are determined as a result of the poll conducted among heads of media outlets and journalist organizations, official and independent organizations and specialists. This award can be presented to the senior officials, public and political figures, who protect freedom of media and expression. This award was presented to such public and political figures Nazim Imanov, Sirus Tabrizli, Ali Karimli, Isa Gambar and the late ex-president Heydar Aliyev,â€ he said.

Evez Rustamov said that some attribute the position of â€œRUHâ€ to the U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan.
â€œThis is a wrong, groundless and biased approach. Ms. Anne Derse is a person, who is interested in the development of media in our country and tries to help it. She deserves more awards,â€ he said.

Executive director of â€œRUHâ€ also took a stance on their leaving Media Key Prize foundersâ€™ list.
â€œRUH is the first organization established in Azerbaijan after the country declared its independence. The organization has been functioning since May, 1992. This organization played great role in the development of journalism. The organization prepared a number of means, organized seminars and roundtables for journalists. We are monitoring the state of freedom of media and expression. The will soon release an edition, which will cover the situation in this field in 1997-2007,â€ he said.

Evez Rustamov said that after Aflatun Amashov left the post of the chairman of the organization, he was succeeded by several persons.
â€œAs the recent chairman Hugug Salmanov is the executive director of the Fund for Protection of Freedom of Expression, I have been commissioned temporarily. With the exception of the Press Council, apathy is observed in the majority of journalist organizations. The existing tendency is also observed in RUH. The activity of journalist organizations is mainly restricted to the implementation of media projects, monitoring and other such activities. Almost every journalist organization does the same work. Maybe stagnation is observed in the activity of RUH, as the organization does not implement a project now. The situation may change tomorrow and maybe an active organization will not have a project. Will it mean that the organization does not function,â€ he said.

Political and Civil Defense Center has today presented award â€œFriend of journalistsâ€ to Anne Derse. â€œRUHâ€ Committee for Protection of Journalists instituted the award some years ago.