news.am, Armenia
Dec 5 2009

Euronews broadcasting might be banned in Azerbaijan

18:08 / 12/05/2009Azerbaijan National Television and Radio Council
(NTRC) might ban the broadcasting of international cable TV channels,
that are of anti-Azerbaijani nature, NTRC Chairman Nushiravan
Maharramli told Trend News.

`If any foreign television channel continues broadcasting such biased
programs, we will demand their cessation,’ he said, speaking of
`Nagorno-Karabakh ` wind of change’ program by Euronews.

`Maharramli recalled that the legislation on televisions broadcasting
specifies the cases when broadcasting of foreign television channels
may be interrupted in the country,’ Trend says.

The mentioned program provoked negative reaction in Azerbaijan up to a
note of protest by Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. In his report the
journalist says: `Nagorno-Karabakh declared independence in 1991 after
collapse of Soviet Union. It resulted in war between Armenia and
Azerbaijan.’

The journalist also points out that for many Karabakhi Armenians
`religious faith remained deeply important part of their lives’. There
are hundreds of traditional Armenian churches and monasteries in NKR.

Under NTRC decree, the broadcasting of BBC, Azadlig (Liberty) and
Voice of America was suspended in accordance with law `On TV
broadcasting’. Euronews seems to be the next.