Azernews.Az

Azerbaijani media holds a leading position in terms of efficiency and objectivity not only in the CIS, but also around the world, head of Azerbaijani Presidential Administration's Social and Political Department Ali Hasanov said at an event dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Rabite Dunyasi (World of communication) newspaper.

Hasanov noted that the processes happening in Azerbaijan are covered from different angles; both domestic and foreign media form pluralism of opinions with regard to developments in the country, adding that there is open competition and open dialogue.

"Is there any interference in the Internet, which is freely used by 65 percent of the population? Is anyone being prosecuted for any article published online? Is there any blogger arrested in Azerbaijan? However, dozens of bloggers are arrested and prosecuted for some articles in Europe and elsewhere," Hasanov noted.

"Does CNN, BBC and other transnational television corporations objectively reflect world events? These centers just bring an opinion of the West about these events to the world," he noted.

"Unfortunately, some foreign forces present Azerbaijan's achievements in this sphere in a distorted form. We follow our own path, the essence of which - to serve the people. We have the will, coming out of the mandate given to us by the people. I call on the Azerbaijani journalists to write, distribute their opinion about the events taking place in Azerbaijan withoutany external interference. Nobody is going to say anything about what you write, or because you criticize someone," Hasanov said.

The official added that today Azerbaijan is on the verge of adopting a law on defamation.

"Professional journalists themselves must make a stand against some "journalists" that harm their reputation, and keep those people away from the media. If we lay such responsibility on the media, then they have to justify themselves, must never forget the professionalism, objectivity and professional code of ethics for journalists," Hasanov said.