Election handbooks for journalists published in Azerbaijan

The brochures, "Media and Elections" and "Fair and Balanced Coverage of Elections," were presented at the Azerbaijani Press Council with support from Baku office of the Council of Europe (CE). The rights and obligations of journalists reporting the events of the election season, culminating with the Nov. 7 poll, were described in the brochures.

Press Council chairman Aflatun Amashov said that elections are crucial for every nation and citizens have responsibilities in the process. A great responsibility rests on the media and journalists, he added, saying that they must promptly and objectively cover the elections and  party platforms.

The CE Special Representative in Azerbaijan, Veronika Kotek, said that handbooks were published as part of the CE Action Plan to support the run-up to November parliamentary elections. The CE representative said there must be a commitment to fairness, impartiality and neutrality. Kotek, touching upon the role and place of media in society, said that this role is particularly evident during elections.

Previous legislative elections were held in November 2005. Parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan are held by the majority system in 125 electoral constituencies.


/Trend/