Azeri media protests against Armenian officers’ visit to Baku

BBC Monitoring research
4 Sep 04

Azerbaijan’s main broadcast and print media outlets protested on 4
September against a planned visit by several Armenian officers to
attend Baku-hosted NATO exercises.

The private ANS TV and ANS CM radio stations suspended broadcasts
between 0500-0600 gmt under the slogan “The Azerbaijani media protests
against Armenian officers’ visit to Baku” which was posted on ANS
TV’s screen. The stations are planning to suspend broadcasts between
1100-1200 and 1500-1600 gmt as well.

The country’s opposition Azadliq, Yeni Musavat, Muxalifat, Baki Xabar
dailies and private Ayna/Zerkalo, Ekho, Ekspress, Sarq, Xalq Cabhasi
and 525-ci Qazet daily newspapers published blank front pages under
the same slogan. Official and pro-government media organizations did
not join the protest.

The Cooperative Best Effort-2004 exercises organized under NATO’s
Partnership for Peace programme are planned to be held between 13-26
September.