OSCE office head: Azerbaijan fully develops information legislation
By Nigar Orujova
OSCE Baku Office head Koray Targay said Azerbaijan has fully developed its information legislation, addressing a two-day workshop on the role of government officials and journalists' fruitful cooperation to promote access to information, co-organized by the OSCE office and media watchdog Press Council in Baku on Monday.
"Though much work has been done in this regard, some problems are still there," Targay said, stressing the need to strengthen the relations between state bodies and people.
"Cooperation is required to improve the quality in this area," he said. "The role of the media should be used here."
According to Targay, the OSCE will continue its cooperation with the government and the Press Council to achieve transparency and progress in this area.
Regarding the freedom of assembly issue, Targay said it is necessary to consider the issue thoroughly.
Vugar Aliyev, sector head at the Presidential Administration's social and political affairs department, told the event that establishing relations between government agencies and the media in Azerbaijan in accordance with democratic development, freedom of expression and the principles of an information society is a priority.
"Ensuring transparency in Azerbaijani society, freedom of mass media and expression of opinions in informing society is one of the state policy priorities. We were able to form a civilized legal basis for this, taking practical steps to ensure transparency in society. Appropriate entities and internet resources are now functioning in all state bodies," Aliyev said.
According to Aliyev, this process has been improved and more information is being posted on the websites of state agencies. Some 75 percent of the information allowed by the law has been placed on the websites of some state bodies.
Aliyev said that substantial measures are being taken on the formation of an e-government and the types of e-services have been defined.
According to a decision of the Cabinet of Ministers, the number of electronic services has increased to 450. About 300 such services, half of which are interactive, are provided in state agencies, he added.
"This process will further be improved and the number of services will be increased. Work on the development of civil society in Azerbaijan is currently underway. These are the requirements of modern times. One of the major factors that boost this process in the period of information society is an even greater acceleration of the global network and the Internet. State bodies...should adjust their work to modern requirements while at the same time need to think about information security of the society. The implementation of appropriate measures by state bodies is a requirement of the time," Aliyev said.
He said the government will fully meet its goals. "This is a continuous process which is improving every year."
Press service representatives of 16 state agencies and representatives of more than 10 media outlets are taking part in the workshop.