Today.Az, Azerbaijan
May 5 2008

Anne Derse: "Development of the independent media as a strong
institution to support Azerbaijan’s democratic development is under
attack"

05 May 2008 [17:25] – Today.Az

The speech of US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Anne Derse, made during her
visit to the north-western region of Azerbaijan:

Ladies and gentlemen,

Thank you for inviting me. It is an honor to celebrate World Press
Freedom Day in the Center that is named after the National Hero of
Azerbaijan, courageous journalist Chingiz Mustafayev, who fell while
performing his duties as a journalist in 1991.

"Our liberty depends on freedom of the press and that cannot be
limited without being lost." So spoke Thomas Jefferson over 200 years
ago. Without a free press, citizens have no access to independent
information about their government and its policies and
performance. Without a free press, citizens do not have the
information they need to hold government accountable, and
consequently, the risk of corruption, malfeasance and mismanagement is
great, especially in an oil rich state. Without a free press, there
can be no public exchange of ideas about national challenges and
priorities Without a free press, there is no real freedom.

That is why it is important that governments that respect freedom
vigorously uphold the right of journalists to work freely, without
fear of violence and persecution, and why it is important that media
adhere to the highest ethical and professional standards in carrying
out their important responsibility to inform the public. Criticism of
the government and government leaders is not treason, it is a hallmark
of true democracy. The US believes that libel and defamation should
not be criminal offences, journalists should not be imprisoned for
expressing their views, incidents of violence or harassment against
journalists to intimidate them into silence should be vigorously
investigated and prosecuted and governments in developing democracies
should work with civil society to develop a free, independent and
objective media to defend the people’s rights.

Speaking as the representative of a government which supports
Azerbaijan’s independence and sovereignty, which has great respect for
the people of Azerbaijan and for Azerbaijan’s history, culture and
accomplishments, and for Azerbaijan’s great potential as a leader in
the region, I must say that the recent physical attacks and the
ongoing smear campaign against Azadliq journalist Agil Halil and
continuing pressure and threats against pro-opposition and independent
journalists show that development of the independent media as a strong
institution to support Azerbaijan’s democratic development is under
attack. Current attitudes towards the media are more reminiscent of
Azerbaijan’s Soviet past than its democratic future. Many Azerbaijanis
and international observers who support Azerbaijan’s goals of
maintaining independence and promoting freedom, in the face of strong
regional pressures, share this view.

Throughout his short but meaningful life, Chingiz Mustafayev fought
for his people’s right to know. He traveled to the zones, swept by war
to report on tragic consequences of war and its innocent
victims. Scenes from Khojali, taped by Chingiz Mustafayev shook the
world and still continue to touch all peace-loving peoples. These
works demonstrate Chingiz’s courage and commitment to his motherland,
his profession, and the principle of media freedom. The best way to
honor his memory – and those of other pioneering Azerbaijani
journalists – is for us to support all journalists seeking to exercise
that fundamental democratic right in support of Azerbaijan’s
democratic future, and freedom for all Azerbaijanis.

Independent journalism serves the public by addressing and stimulating
a debate on issues of national concern. Just as Chingiz did,
journalists today have a responsibility to report on key issues of
national import, including Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan’s democratic
reforms, the use of its energy revenues, and corruption. I am doubly
happy to see the young generation of Azerbaijani journalists guided by
the courageous work of those, like Chingiz Mustafayev, who made
today’s journalism in Azerbaijan possible.

Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in renewing our commitment to
media freedom and wishing success to all the journalists in Azerbaijan
and everywhere else in the world.

Thank you.

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