AZERBAIJANI PARLIAMENT’S DEBATES FOCUS ON STATE OF MEDIA

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 31 2007

The next meeting of Azerbaijani Parliament started today, APA reports.

The parliamentarians focused on the state of freedom of expression
and press in the country most of all during the debate of current
problems. Parliamentarians Sabir Rustamkhanli, Panah Huseyn, Igbal
Agazadeh, Gudret Hasanguliyev and others said they were anxious about
the group of journalists’ seeking asylum from foreign countries. They
said such activity of journalists damages the international image
of the country. The parliamentarians reminding summer session of
Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe will start stated that
the problems in media should be solved by the session.

Vice-speaker of the Parliament Ziyafat Asgarov asserting the speech
of parliamentarians stressed that several journalists used it as a
campaign and try to derive benefit from it.

MP Sayavush Novruzov accused the journalists who appeal to foreign
countries to make show.

"There are several journalists who present themselves as the
representatives of other nations for seeking asylum from foreign
countries. And why only the journalists of the same newspapers claim
that there is not freedom of expression in Azerbaijan? The journalists
of the other newspapers would claim on it, if there was not freedom
of expression in Azerbaijan. On the other hand, several political
parties want to be popular by making use the state of media," he said.

MP Panah Huseyn welcomed lifting the ban on azan with loudspeakers.

Commenting on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s opinion "The
alternative of the peace is war" said that they debated this issue
with several NGOs.

"We decided that all the political forces should demonstrate national
solidarity," he said.

Huseyn also initiated the proposal of holding closed debate in
Parliament regarding the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

MP Gudrat Hasanguliyev addressing the meeting proposed to raise the
salary of parliamentarians.

Sayavush Novruzov proposed amending the draft on "Freedom of religious
faith". The parliamentarian said that amendments should be made to
draft on holding religious ceremonies.