Azerbaijani Press Council meets with Amnesty International

Azerbaijani Press Council Chairman Aflatun Amashov discussed freedom of speech and press with Amnesty International Europe and Central Asia Department Deputy Director John Dalhuisen on Thursday.

Amashov said the council is studying advertisement and announcements as a vehicle to improve the press' economic state, as well as the law on defamation.

"We have been working with the OSCE as of March last year in connection with the law on defamation. We made joint amendments to the professional journalistic ethics," Amashov said.

He said the main goal is to strengthen journalists’ responsibility, and special attention is paid to this in a new, improved version of the professional ethics.

Dalhuisen said Amnesty International is preparing an extensive report in connection with human rights and media freedom in Azerbaijan, and to this end, meetings were held with the editors of several newspapers, heads of government agencies and nongovernmental organizations. He said that the protection of human rights is an important factor in democratization.


/Trend/