Activity Details (ID# 10851)

Activity Synopsis

To strengthen dialogue and information flows between state authorities and the media in particular with regard to access to official public information (roundtable).

To discuss public and private broadcasting in Azerbaijan with reference to recent developments concerning the transformation of the two State television channels into independent public broadcasters (AZTV1 and AZTV2) (seminar).
 

In respect of the roundtable on dialogue between state authorities and the media in Azerbaijan, the participants noted:

- the vital importance of continuous dialogue, information and general communication between the media and state authorities as a means to ensure that the public is reliably and accurately informed about matters of public concern in order that they may form their own critical opinion of the authorities that govern them, and so that they may actively participate in matters which concern them. Moreover, they considered this crucial to balanced media coverage of elections;

- there will always be a tension between the media and political parties, especially in the run-up to Parliamentary elections, but state authorities should refrain from interfering in media activities with a view to influencing the elections;

- the media should respect the privacy of politicians and their families, except where it can be clearly demonstrated that it is in the public interest to discuss particular issues.

In respect of the seminar on public and private broadcasting, the following conclusions were agreed:

- All broadcasters, public and private, should be independent of political influence.

- The Public Broadcaster should deliver balanced coverage of news and current affairs, high quality and diverse programming, reflecting the concerns and interests of Azerbaijan society.

- The Broadcasting Council should regulate the Public Broadcaster with a light touch, respecting the powers of the Management Board and Director General, and their management responsibilities.

- The dual system of public-private broadcasters should be the model best adopted in Azerbaijan. The closed joint stock company should be transformed into a proper Public Broadcaster as soon as possible.

- All private broadcasters should be licensed in a fair and non-discriminatory way. The terms of licenses should be advertised, and the frequencies determined by an independent regulatory authority.

- Azerbaijan should sign the European Convention on Transfrontier Television. This would give a strong signal to the Council of Europe that Azerbaijan intends to adopt the standards set out in the Convention prior to its ratification.

 

In respect of the roundtable on dialogue between state authorities and the media in Azerbaijan, the participants agreed on the desirability for the following actions to be taken:

- to adopt the draft Law on freedom of information in accordance with Council of Europe standards as soon as possible,

- to adopt the draft Law on defamation in accordance with Council of Europe standards as soon as possible,

- to review the Law on media in the light of the abovementioned Laws once they are adopted,

- to give greater priority to the training of press officials in state authorities regarding their duties and obligations to inform the public, through the media, of important political, economic, international, social and cultural developments of relevance to Azerbaijan;

- media professionals and state authorities should meet regularly, in forums facilitated by the Council of Europe, to exchange views on key issues. These exchanges should be open and transparent;

- for the Council of Europe and Azerbaijan to develop its cooperation in this field, in particular to strengthen the legal framework and to develop the training of media professionals.
 

(i) Government officials/ MPs/ Judges:

Shahin Aliyev, Head of the Legislative Department of the Presidential Apparatus
Ali Hasanov, Head of the Socio-Political Department of the Presidential Apparatus
Ali Huseynov, Chairman, Standing Commission of the Milli Mejlis on Legal Policy and Inst. Building.
Safa Mirzayev, Head of the Secretariat of the Milli Mejlis
Rizvan Jabiyev, Member of the Standing Commission of the Milli Mejlis on Security and Defense
Nushiravan Maharramov, Chairman of the National Council on TV and Radio
Samed Seyidov, MP, Head of the Azerbaijani Delegation to PACE
Asim Mollazadeh, Member of the Azerbaijani Delegation to PACE
Bakhtiyar Sadigov, MP, Editor-in-chief, “Azerbaijan” newspaper
Ali Kerimli, MP, Milli Mejlis
Ilham Hasanov, Court of Appeals
Arif Mammadov, MFA

(ii) Journalists/Media Experts/NGOs:

Arif Aliyev, Chairman, Yeni Nesil, NGO
Intigam Aliyev, Chairman, Legal Education Society
Rashid Hajili, Director, Media Law Institute
Aflatun Amashov, Chairman, Press Council
Hayal Tagiyev, Media expert, Space TV
Jahangiq Mammedli, Chief of Department, Baku State University
Nadir Abilov, Chairman, Young Lawyers Association
Qabil Abbasoqlu, Acting editor-in-chief, Yeni Musavat newspaper
Mehman Aliyev, Director, Turan Information Agency
Qanimat Zahidov, Editor-in-chief, Azadliq newspaper
Elchin Shikhly, Editor-in-chief, Zerkalo newspaper
Huquq Salmanov, Chairman, “RUH” Committee for Protection of Journalists
Mushfig Aleskerli, Project Co-ordinator, JUHI, Trade Union of Journalists
Sabina Iskenderly, lawyer, Association of Women Journalists
Aslan Ismaylov, Legal expert, VISA law firm
Nadir Abilov, Young Lawyers Association,
Mehman Aliyev, Turan Information Agency
Rauf Talishinski - editor in chief of Ekho newspaper
Azer Aykhan - editor in chief of Yeni Musavat newspaper
Rashad Mejid - editor in chief of 525-th newspaper
Ganimat Zahidov - editor in chief of Azadlig newspaper

(iii) International Organizations

OSCE: Ambassador Maurizio Pavesi; Ingrid Angela Gössinger; Ulvi Akhundly

Eurasia Foundation: Jamal Shahverdiyev; Kazim Guliyev

GTZ: Khatira Shikhiyeva

Open Society Institute: Farda Asadov; Rovshan Bagirov

Media Diversity: Elshad Farzaliyev

IREX: Shelly Markoff;Shain Abbasov

Internews: Whitney Mason;Ilham Safarov

Council of Europe: SRSG Mats Lindberg; Ilgar Ibrahimi; Acting Director, Information Office



 

Sandra Bašic-Hrvatin, President,Radio and Television Commission, Slovenia
Carolyn Morrison, Independent Consultant on Broadcasting Policy and Regulation, Former Head of International Broadcasting, UK
 

Lee Hibbard, Media Division, DGII - Human Rights
Mats Lindberg, SRSG, Baku
Ilgar Ibrahimi, Acting Director, Information Office