ELCHIN SHIKHLINSKI: THE IMAGE OF AN ENEMY EXISTS DUE TO THE UNSETTLED KARABAKH CONFLICT
news.AZ
Nov 5 2009
Azerbaijan
Interview News.Az with Elchin Shikhlinski, chairman of the Azerbaijan
Journalists’ Union, editor-in-chief of the Zerkalo newspaper.
What can you say about the meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian
journalists in Moscow at initiative of the ambassadors of Azerbaijan
and Armenia in Russia?
First of all, I have repeatedly met with representatives of the
Armenian press. Certainly, this occurred not within the framework
of a special meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani mass media
representatives but within the framework of international symposiums,
seminars and other meetings with participation of journalists from
different countries including the South Caucasus states.
As the result, I am familiar with the most leading Armenian
journalists. Therefore, I have a positive attitude towards the meeting
of Azerbaijani and Armenian journalists held in Moscow.
Indeed, mass media play almost a crucial role in formation of spirits
among the population of our countries. Will it be possible to get
rid of the image of an enemy in Armenia and Azerbaijan?
A research was held several years ago. Armenians inspected the
Azerbaijani and Georgian press, Georgians viewed Azerbaijani and
Armenian press and Azerbaijanis – Armenian and Georgian press to
reveal publications forming an image of an enemy in our countries.
And during the presentation of the results of the researches held
in Tbilisi I reminded to everyone that any mass media is a business
built on a social order.
The image of an enemy exists due to the unsettled Karabakh conflict.
It means that not we, the mass media representatives, are to be blamed
for such a social order. The only possible way to remove it is to
eliminate the cause of such event and attain the just settlement of
the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.
Moreover, how can we hope on removal of the image of an enemy in
our countries, if Armenia is led by Serzh Sargsyan who had taken a
personal part in terminating Azerbaijani civilians in Nagorno Karabakh
and adjacent occupied territories of Azerbaijan?!
Armenians say Nagorno Karabakh is their historical land and we present
arguments that this is not true and Nagorno Karabakh is an ancient
Azerbaijani lands.
Do the representatives of Armenian mass media agree with the arguments
of Azerbaijani representatives during the meetings within the framework
of different international organizations?
Almost the same people attend different conferences and other
international events both from the Armenian and from our part and
they have been discussing all the debated issues between Azerbaijan
and Armenia for already 15 years. I think each side preserves its
opinion: Armenians say Nagorno Karabakh is their historical land and
we present arguments that this is not true and Nagorno Karabakh is
an ancient Azerbaijani lands.
Being aware that further debates on this issue are senseless, the
sides prefer not to discuss this topic during discussions.
And the last question: do the Armenian or Azerbaijani mass media
differ with their level of professionalism?
In general, we do not differ much. But I have to admit that a group
of Azerbaijani journalists that lay a key role in our country do not
know any other language except Azerbaijani.
Unlike us, the leading Armenian journalists mostly speak not only
Armenian but also Russian and English.
Unfortunately, we see sometimes that when Armenian journalists make
their reports in English during international conferences, most
Azerbaijani representatives even do not understand their speech.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress