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Ismayil Omarov: We can not be means for anyone â€“ INTERVIEW

Ismayil Omarov: We can not be means for anyone â€“ <font color=red>INTERVIEW </font>

29 August 2008 12:51 (UTC +04:00)

-Today three years have passed since establishing of Public Television. How do you value your activity over the past period?

-You need to ask Azerbaijani society and intellectuals about the three-year activity of the Public Television. I consider that the society is satisfied with the Public Television. We achieved to form the televisionâ€™s staff and material-technical basis, to establish professional program policy, to create various programs and to use experience of world TV channels. It is not a complacence. We always prefer criticism than compliments during discussions of the programs. We bear a great load of responsibility and now have no right to work differently. Other TV channels have excuses when they get in trouble, but we have no rights to do that. We are looking forward for many successes.

-Is your material-technical basis fully secured?

-Even worldâ€™s leading TV channels can not claim that they have fully secured material-technical basis. Improvements are permanently going on in this field. We intend to purchase long-term technical equipments. We are quite different and technically superior TV channel in Azerbaijanâ€™s TV space. We have different studios and technical equipment than other TV channels and we achieved it thanks to the governmentâ€™s care.

-Last year you concerned over the budget. How did you solve this problem?

-We have such concerns in 2007, but we didnâ€™t face with serious problems. This year we have normal budget and I hope it will be so next year. We have not to complain on this issue.

-Public Television put forward interesting projects at the beginning, but delayed it later. What does cause it?

-There are few long-term projects. Television always demands new projects. The audience tire from the long-term projects even those are interesting and attractive. We prefer international projects now and intend to create live link-ups with different countries. We are working now for Eurovision Junior and preparing for the next Eurovision Contest. This work demands great efforts.

-Are you satisfied with your staff?

-It is important that the staff can be satisfied with me. My biggest project is this staff. I am proud of their intellect and professionalism.
-Are you going to present a project in the Public Television being a journalist?

-I would have done, if we had lacked announcers. I thought about it at first. But we did not have such difficulties. A program does not depend on a person. Each program has its alternative announcer and authors.

-Once you said Public Television pays the highest salary to the journalists in Azerbaijan. How is the situation now?

-We still pay the highest salary. The journalists of Public Television go to foreign countries with the help of international organizations, embassies and government agencies. Besides, we have built a big vacation center for our staff in Guba. It will be inaugurated soon. Our employees will be able to rest there together with their families. We plan to allot room for the Press Council, too. Our colleagues will also be able to rest in the vacation center through this council.

-How does Public Television keep balance in the society and among political forces?

-We want to establish a new democratic institution in Azerbaijani journalism. We have no right to violate the nine-point working principle covered in the law on Public Television. All political forces feel at home in Public Television.

-Leaders of some opposition parties are not invited to Public Televisionâ€¦

-Name them.

-Ali Karimli, Isa Gambarâ€¦

-We have perfectly covered any events of Ali Karimli and Isa Gambar. They had not held an event, which was not broadcasted on Public Television. Some political forces try to make their passive work active by mentioning balance. We can not be means for anyone. They can make speech on Public Television anytime they want. Sulheddin Akbar, Gabil Huseynli and Rasim Musabayov are experts of â€œYekunâ€ program on Public TV. We do not make distinction, we cover what is necessary for our nation. New Azerbaijan Party also accuses us of covering their events less. Ali Ahmadov, Siyavush Novruzov have appeared on the television less than the above-mentioned men.

-Public Television will carry out free campaign of the presidential candidates in Azerbaijan? What can you say about the level of preparations?

-We realize the responsibility. We will cover the elections impartially without taking anybodyâ€™s side. We have already set up a special studio in connection with the elections. I think none of the sides will criticize us.

-When will your tenure as Public TV Director General expire?

-Next year.

-Will you put forward your candidacy again?

-I have had only one work place â€“ television. I think I will work on the television till the end of my life.