Ali Hasanov: Govt backs dialogue on main human right issues - UPDATE

Adoption and application of the law "On Defamation" will be considered in the Azerbaijani society in the future, Head of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration's Social and Political Department, Ali Hasanov said at an event on "Reforms in the area of human rights: the prospects of defamation law" on May 22.

According to Hasanov, this legislative initiative is sometimes not understood correctly, and is wrongly explained.

"In particular, I mean the media organizations operating in this area," he said. "Therefore, the attention will be paid to the main philosophy, goals and essence of this law. We consider the law "On Defamation" as an additional creative opportunity for professional, responsible journalists working in Azerbaijan and respectful to their profession. This law is aimed at further expansion of the journalists' activity."

"The law must not be propagandized as if anyone in the Azerbaijani society can offend other member of the society in any form after its adoption," he said.

"It is a wrong conception and a wrong presentation," he said. "Humiliation of honor and dignity of people will always be a crime in the Azerbaijani legislation. This is one of the main principles of society, of the country created by us, because people must realize the responsibility for the humiliation of one's honor and dignity."

Hasanov noted that it is aimed at creating broad opportunities for freedom of speech, and the conditions for creating a transparent environment.

"Today, some individuals present the parliament's tightening the penalties for insulting the honor and dignity as restricting the freedom of the press and freedom of speech," he said. "This is absolutely wrong. Ensuring the freedom of press and speech in Azerbaijan is regulated by another law. There are laws on the press, television and radio and the code of journalistic ethics. Every journalist who observes these principles can intervene in any area, collect, distribute and analyze the information."

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13:40
The Azerbaijani government is interested and willing to discuss any topic, including any issue regarding media, Head of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration's Social and Political Department, Ali Hasanov said.

Hasanov made this statement addressing the event on the topic "Reforms in the sphere of human rights: prospects of legislation on defamation".

He said the Azerbaijani government welcomes and supports the dialogue on key issues in the sphere of human rights with civil society institutions, media outlets, local and international organizations, including the other branches of government.

"Every dialogue and exchange of views eventually creates conditions to find optimal ways, providing additional support to the relevant structures to coordinate different views and find common ground. In this sense, issues of relations between the people and the press, media and the public are urgent in Azerbaijani society," Hasanov said.

He said the important sections in connection with ensuring the human rights and freedoms in Azerbaijan are reflected in the Constitution of Azerbaijan, adopted in 1995.

"Most of the laws and initiatives taken after the adoption of the Constitution, are aimed at full-fledged ensuring of human rights in society, study and application of the most advanced international experience in the society. We want and seek to build such a society in which the balance of human rights would be preserved, the rights would be fully ensured," Hasanov said.

Legislative initiatives should be aimed at that direction to make necessary achievement, Hasanov said.


/Trend/