Broadcasting Board of Governors issued statement on media restrictions in Azerbaijan

"Millions of people in the region rely on our high-quality news, information and analysis and we urge the government of Azerbaijan to reconsider this plan," says BBG Board Member Steven J. Simmons.

Simmons added that this follows a "disturbing pattern" that began with harsh restrictions on private broadcasters within the country two years ago, and now directly impacts international media.

Today, the Chairman of Azerbaijan's National Television and Radio Council announced that foreign broadcasts on frequencies controlled by the government of Azerbaijan would cease in 2009. There was no advance consultation with the BBG, which provides oversight for all U.S. international broadcasting. The government claims the decision was made in order to be consistent with European and international standards.

"We have not seen any official decision as yet," said U.S. Embassy spokesman (Baku) Terry Davidson, during an interview with VOA's Azerbaijani Service. "In Azerbaijan, foreign broadcasters such as Voice of America, RFE/RL and the BBC have contributed greatly to enriching the space for public debate and understanding," he added.

Broadcasting from Baku, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service, Radio Azadliq, broadcasts 67 hours of programming each week, offering listeners up-to-the minute news and information and a rich menu of live, interactive, call-in shows on local, social and political issues. Among the most popular programs are the daily one-hour Dear Baku and two-hour, prime time After Work shows. They have stimulated vigorous public debate about corruption, infant mortality, the state of national health care, and other issues. In May, a prominent organization of women journalists in Baku presented Radio Azadliq with the "Most Successful Media Organization of the Year" Award.

VOA's Azerbaijani Service broadcasts two 5-minute newscasts and a 30-minute program daily on FM in Baku. The Service also produces television programs, including a weekday, 7-minute Newsflash segment featuring the day's top news stories and a weekly 15-minute American Review program, which airs on Azeri TeleVision (AzTV).

In November 2006, the government of Azerbaijan shut down BBG's affiliate station, ANS, which ended local rebroadcasting of both RFE/RL and VOA radio and television programs. The radio license, which is now under threat, was offered as a compromise solution. Since then, RFE/RL and VOA have reached substantial audiences within the country.

The Broadcasting Board of Governors is an independent federal agency, supervising all U.S. government-supported, non-military international broadcasting, whose mission is to promote freedom and democracy and to enhance understanding through multi-media communication of accurate, objective, and balanced news, information, and other programming about America and the world to audiences overseas. BBG broadcasting organizations include the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa), Radio Free Asia, and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio and TV Mart?). BBG broadcasts reach over 175 million people worldwide on a weekly basis.