Azeri leader backs independent media

ANS TV, Baku
21 Jul 05

[Presenter in studio] Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev who attended
a ceremony to mark the national press day today has expressed his
attitude to the press which he described as an important promoter of
democracy. He said the abolition of censorship and the value added
tax on the media was an indicator of the [government’s] attitude to
the press.

[Correspondent over video of the ceremony] The prosperity of every
nation is closely intertwined with the development of its media.
Speaking about the path covered by the Azerbaijani media in 130
years and the media’s contribution to the promotion of democracy and
universal values, the chairman of the Press Council, Aflatun Amasov,
described the abolition of censorship and the value added tax as an
indicator of [the government’s] care for the media.

Amasov described as the main problem the fact that the media have
has lost their independence as a result of economic weakness. The
chairman of the Press Council suggested that official newspapers be
privatized and long-term loans be issued to newspapers.

President Ilham Aliyev said in his remarks that there is a strong
need for independent media today.

[Aliyev shown speaking at the ceremony] The independence of the
media in Azerbaijan is the requirement of time. I think the media
should not come under pressure from political circles and should be
truly independent.

[Correspondent] Ilham Aliyev pointed out that it was important for
government officials to be open to the press and to be tolerant
of criticism.

[Aliyev] Criticism helps make changes in our work. This is very
important. There must be permanent contacts between the authorities
and the media.

[Correspondent] Touching on Armenian media speculation that the
Azerbaijani press is not democratic, the president said newspapers
were playing an important propaganda role because Azerbaijan has
defeated Armenia in all spheres and because there is progress in the
negotiations to resolve the Nagornyy Karabakh problem.

[Passage omitted: names of journalists who have received different
state awards]

Zamina Aliyeva, Ramin Yaqubov, ANS.