Azernews.Az

By Kamila Aliyeva

A seminar-conference on the role and functions of the media in presidential elections was held in Baku on March 19.

Speaking at the event, Azerbaijani President’s Assistant for Public and Political Affairs Ali Hasanov noted that mass media should be careful not to violate requirements of the Electoral Code.

Media plays an important role in all stages of elections in Azerbaijan, he said.

Hasanov noted that from now on there are two important objects and subjects in the Azerbaijani society in connection with the upcoming election.

“First of all, it is the candidate and his platform; each candidate must inform the people about his program, goals and views through the media. The candidates will conduct debates on television, as well as meet with voters in regions, and results of the meetings will again be reported to people by the media. From this point of view, the role of the media is proportional to the role of the candidates participating in the presidential election,” he said.

Hasanov went on to say that the media should work during the election in accordance with requirements of the Electoral Code.

“That is, they must organize their work, firstly, in accordance with their professionalism, secondly, in accordance with requirements of the Electoral Code. The media should create equal opportunities for all candidates in terms of price, time and place,” he said.

The official said the election is an important national event and the media should be responsible in this issue.

“The media should be careful not to violate the requirements of the Electoral Code, because violating a particular requirement of the Code can harm the whole image of the election. It must be taken into account that the election will be observed by various centers, and there should not be an impression that the requirements of the Electoral Code are violated,” he noted.

Hasanov stressed that the media should properly set the borderline between the activities of the President as a head of state and his campaigning as a presidential candidate.

He added that equal conditions should be created for candidates in commercial issues, that is, an equal pricing policy should be provided for all candidates.

Addressing the event, Nushiravan Maharramli, chairperson of the National Television and Radio Council, said that no authority or candidate has filed a complaint on the media in relation to the April 11 presidential election in Azerbaijan.

He said all radio and TV are ready for paid advertising, noting, however, the balance between pre-election campaign and advertising activity should be ensured.

“Sometimes advertising on goods and services on TVs is more expensive than the time allocated for candidates. Hence, TV channels are sometimes not interested in the allocation of paid airtime for candidates. Therefore, I would like TV and radio to have a normal approach to issues of payment for paid airtime by subscribers,” the chairperson added.

Monitoring of media outlets in connection with the April 11 presidential election is underway in Azerbaijan, Chairman of Azerbaijan’s Press Council Aflatun Amashov said at the seminar-conference.

He noted that 15 newspapers and 10 news agencies are being monitored, adding that the professionalism of preparation of articles about the presidential candidates will be studied during the monitoring.

Amashov said that just like during the previous elections, a hotline will be established in the Press Council on the presidential election day.

In case if any problems arise, Azerbaijan’s Central Election Commission will be contacted and the issue will be clarified, he added.

The presidential election in Azerbaijan is to be held on April 11, according to an order signed on February 5 by the country's President Ilham Aliyev.

Eight candidates - Ilham Aliyev, nominated from the New Azerbaijan Party, Gudrat Hasanguliyev from the Azerbaijani Popular Front Party, Araz Alizade from the Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan, Faraj Guliyev from the National Revival Movement Party, Razi Nurullayev from the Frontists Initiative Group, Hafiz Hajiyev from the Modern Musavat Party, self-nominee Zahid Oruj and Sardar Mammadov from the Azerbaijan Democratic Party – will be competing at the upcoming presidential election in Azerbaijan.

The voting procedure will be monitored by 115 international and more than 42,000 local observers. The accredited observers represent 36 countries. The number of local observers accredited in the CEC is 615.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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