It is not the first time that the Reporters Without Borders (RWB) has prepared this kind of documents. I suppose that there can not be unambiguous approach to this report in Azerbaijan or in any other country in the world,” chairman of Azerbaijani Press Council Aflatun Amashov told APA while commenting on World Press Freedom Index released by the Reporters Without Borders.
Amashov said that it is important for the agencies studying the state of freedom of speech and press to have specific approach on this issue: “Problems should be also reflected in a specific way. I think claiming that critical media faces death and kidnapping threats in Azerbaijan is a non-serious approach and absurd. Azerbaijani media has different problems. Advertising market is weak in the country. This has a negative impact on the economic situation of media outlets, professionalism isn’t at the required level. But there are initiatives aimed at resolving the problems at the level of state and non-governmental organizations. A significant part of the problem was solved over the years. There is still much to be done. However, the current situation doesn’t give ground to rank our media at the same level with the media of some backward countries.”
The Press Council chairman said that Azerbaijan ranked 156th in the previous report of Reporters Without Borders: “This year our country ranks 160th in the Press Freedom Index. Compared to previous years, our country has dropped behind. I don’t think so, I won’t be surprised if Azerbaijan ranks the last – 180th in the list of Reporters Without Borders.
Amashov wonders how it could be that Iraq, Egypt and Afghanistan precede Azerbaijan in the Press Freedom Index: “We often hear reports on murder of a number of journalists in these countries. It is strange that, Afghanistan, which is in a whirl of mass chaos, is in the 128th place in this list. On the other hand, Armenia ranked 78th, Georgia 84th. I will not compare these two countries with Azerbaijan. But how could it be that Georgia lags behind Armenia for the freedom of press? It seems unconvincing. The countries such as Kenya, Nicaragua, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Myanmar, where the concept of freedom of press does not exist at all, are ahead of Azerbaijan in this list. How can we call it?”
He also said the values associated with freedom of speech and press are common in nature. But it doesn’t mean that these values should be individualized and approached purposely.
Reporters Without Borders has released its annual Press Freedom Index ranking Azerbaijan 160th.
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