Rashid Hajili: "Our local radio stations should try to learn from Azadlyg and BBC radio stations"

Speaking on the issue, famous local expert and director of Media Rights Institute Rashid Hajili reminded that when Azerbaijan started to actively ban free transmission of Russian TV channels, he repeatedly said in his interview to Echo that the country has many people, who will lose from these steps, as they would like to continue watching programs in Russian, but not all of them can afford satellite antenna. At that time, this issue was especially sharp but the implied were Russian state channels, broadcast directly from Moscow. The same referred to the Turkish TV channels. But in this case we imply three western radio stations, that prepare programs for us in Azerbaijani language", said the expert "this especially refers to Azadlyg radio and BBC. Their reports are mostly prepared in Azerbaijan and are related to events, ongoing in our country. This is quite different from the content of previously banned foreign TV channels. Here, we should take into consideration that our citizens are used to these radio stations, which have become a part of our common media space into which they are actively involved, covering all internal events. In this sense, all these radio stations have become a part of freedom of speech, which now exists in Azerbaijan. They involve many journalists from our country, that broadcast news about events around us very objectively, comprehensively and operatively.

Another issue is that the radio companies, spoken of, are mostly private", noted Hajili. "I am not aware of the contracts between English and Azerbaijan regarding BBC and between the United States and Azerbaijan regarding Voice of America, but as for the Azadlyg radio station, this is a private noncommercial channel, financed by the US congress. Under the laws of Azerbaijan, such companies, as all these three channels, have a right to bid for tenders to get frequencies and licenses. They can not be compared to foreign TV channels of Russia and Turkey. There are differences. Therefore, I want them to be preserved on air. They can not be replaced by anything else. If their licenses were upgraded last year and considering the fact that they broadcast on usual local frequencies, public must be presented good grounds for the government's efforts to close their broadcast.

The argument of the frequencies as the national property of the country are out of the question, as we have lots of empty and unused radio stations, which can be sold even to local citizens.

We should not forget that today most of our citizens have got used to listen to radio at home, at work and in their cars. And, moreover, today these companies can serve an example for our local radio stations".

"Echo"