BAKU: Azeri presidential aide says BBC radio cannot be taken off air

Azeri presidential aide says BBC radio cannot be taken off air

Azartac news agency, Baku
31 May 04

Azerbaijan is a democratic republic, democracy in the country is
developing rapidly, and it would be inappropriate to take a media
outlet off the air for the information it circulates, the head of
the presidential administration, Ramiz Mehdiyev, has told Azartac
news agency commenting on a BBC correspondent’s visit to Nagornyy
Karabakh without the permission of the Azerbaijani authorities and
in violation of Azerbaijani laws.

Ramiz Mehdiyev added that the BBC correspondent should have observed
the law, and the fact that he did not has caused fair discontent of
many people.

However, since freedom of the press is duly protected in Azerbaijan,
it would be unacceptable to take sanctions against the radio station
or to take it off the air. This runs counter to democratic principles
and to our position, Mehdiyev said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS