25 September 2007, 20:39
The States are anxious about the situation with mass media in Azerbaijan
The US position in relation to the freedom of the media and status of journalists in Azerbaijan is very simple and transparent: journalists should not be subject to imprisonment because of their expressed thoughts. Ms Ann Dears, US Ambassador to Azerbaijan, has stated this idea when talking to journalists and making comments on the arrest of the regional correspondent of the "Eni Musavat" newspaper in Nakhichevan and the situation with mass media in Azerbaijan as a whole.
The Ambassador has noted that according to the European Convention on Human Rights the responsibility for defamation should be withdrawn from the Criminal Code. "Speaking more particularly, according to the European Convention Azerbaijan has undertaken obligations in this area. Realization of these obligations will contribute to development of democracy in Azerbaijan," the US Ambassador said.
Meanwhile, the statement of the "Azadlyg" (Freedom) oppositional block that arrived to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent runs that "the Azerbaijani authorities have launched the offensive against the last remaining spokesmen of the freedom of speech in the country with the use of all possible illegal means."
Author: Zaur Rasulzade, CK correspondent
