"Azerbaijan fulfilled freedom of speech obligations in 2010"

Issues of freedom of speech and information and the development of the mass media and the non-governmental sector were priorities in 2010, and the state fulfilled its obligations, Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Social and Political Department head Ali Hasanov said.

"Following the establishment of the Azerbaijani Presidential State NGO Support Council, steps were taken to bring NGO activities in line with the requirements of the modern era, increase their role in the society life and improve the citizen initiative," he said. "The state budget has allocated 10 million manat to the council to finance NGO projects. Today, NGOs carry out hundreds of different projects in cooperation with the council and actively engage in the solution of the issue that are priority for the society and the state and society takes an active part."

Hasanov added that measures are constantly being taken to improve mass media and freedom of speech and information.

"The fund established in 2009 works closely with media agencies, funds their projects and holds journalist competitions," he said.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed an order to mark the 135th anniversary of local media in 2010. Conferences, roundtables and other events were held to mark the event. On July 22, Aliyev inaugurated the new building of the Press Council and met with the Council members. Upon presidential order, 92 journalists were awarded the honorary titles, 32 newspapers received 20,000 manat one-time aid each and 8 news agencies one-time aid worth 10,000 each. The president also signed decree to allocate 5 million manat from the Presidential Reserve Fund to improve the social protection of journalists and their housing conditions.

The main purpose of the state's information policy is to ensure the necessary conditions for mass media outlets to effectively carry out their activity aimed to objectively inform society.

The government insists on fulfilling its obligations to improve freedom of speech, to develop the independence of mass media and to strengthen their material and technical basis, he said.


/Trend/