Mikhail Zabelin: "Issue of taking the RTR channel off air in Azerbaijan has not yet been closed, as it is a violation of the rights of a large part of Azerbaijan's population"

He noted that people who intend to watch the RTR channel, as well as programs in Russian, and can afford it, will buy satellite antenna, anyway. However, people who can not afford cable television or satellite antenna, suffer more from the resolution to stop broadcasting RTR channel, as well as programs in Russian in Azerbaijan.

"Statement of the chairman of the National Television and Radio Broadcasting Committee N.Magerramly, that the films in Chinese might just as well be broadcasted in Azerbaijan are not serious, as Russian have become an integral part of the Azerbaijani society and it is not right to compare it with the Chinese language in this case", he saidю

He noted that programs in Russian are broadcasted in Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other CIS countries. He called it incorrect to speak about what is done in these countries and what is not in other ones.

"We live in Azerbaijan, not in Ukraine or in Canada or anywhere else. Let's settle our problems in a civil way not violating the rights of other people, who are also the citizens of Azerbaijan. Let's listen to their opinion and try to create favorable conditions for these and others. It is not a crime or violation of any national interests".

He noted that the Azerbaijani Interaz, though being a cable TV channel, is broadcasted in Russia and is popular enough.

He said Russia can not afford broadcasting of Azerbaijani channel in Russia as it is more expensive than broadcasting of a Russian TV channel in Azerbaijan due to expenses on advertising and others.

"The issue of mutual broadcasting has been considered on the level of the inter-parliamentary commission in Moscow. We did not manage to settle the problem positively. However, I think it has not taken off the agenda. Though, it has not been settled, it was discussed at the session of the intergovernmental commission in Moscow in December", Zabelin said.

/Day.Az/