Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev won his second "Friend of Journalists" award.

According to the results of the poll which was held by RUH Committee to Protect Journalists, the Azerbaijani President was declared the friend of journalists for the second time with 89 percent of the votes.

Azerbaijan's 30 influential daily, 15 weekly, and four regional newspapers, six journals, 11 information agencies, 12 news portals, seven TV channels, four radio broadcasts, and 11 journalist organizations participated in the poll.

The award presentation ceremony which was held on November 24 was attended by members of Azerbaijan Press Council, State Fund for the Support of Mass Media Development under the Azerbaijani President, and the heads of leading media outlets.

Addressing the event, Chairman of the Press Council Aflatun Amashov congratulated the president on winning the "Friend of Journalists" award.

He handed over the award to President Aliyev.

The Head of State delivered a speech at the ceremony and highlighted the work and reforms conducted in the country.

Azerbaijan has achieved significant progress in media in recent years, President Aliyev said.

"Free media has a special role in building a democratic society," he said. "I think the activities of the journalist community and an order coming from the journalist community to the society, of course, plays an important role in creating free journalism and independent media. Meanwhile, these processes would not be organized at a proper level without public policy. I think joining these two main directions has ensured the current positive dynamics in Azerbaijan."

He highlighted the existence of democratic values, freedom of speech, and freedom of media in the country.

President Aliyev went on to note that no restriction imposed on people's freedoms in the country.

"A democratic society is being built in the country. The economic reforms carried out in Azerbaijan together with political ones will determine the country's future", he said.

"I think that the reforms which will be carried out in the coming years in connection with democratic developments will improve the situation in Azerbaijan in this field to the highest level. At the same time, I should note that our country doesn't lag behind any country from the viewpoint of democratic development," the president said.

He also noted that freedom of speech, media, political activity, assembly, and worship are being ensured in Azerbaijan.

"Azerbaijan is a country where free Internet exists and the number of Internet users exceeds 70 percent. There is not any limitation. Hundreds of printed media outlets operate in the country. In short, the state only assists the development of media," he said.

President Aliyev went on to note that the development of media would continue to be a priority for the Azerbaijani government.

Azerbaijan should pursue a policy that ensures the sustainable development of the country, because many big powers have become Azerbaijan's rivals today, he said.

The president also noted the media's role in raising patriotic spirit in young people, promoting global awareness of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, and leading the country out of information blockade.

The Armenian lobby is campaigning against Azerbaijan, provides regular activities to tarnish the country, and tries to create a distorted view of Azerbaijan, he said.

"The 21th century is the century of information warfare. The availability of Internet, of course, exacerbates this struggle. We should be ready for this, to bring our realities to the attention of the international community. The state, of course, takes the main task upon itself. However, media representatives, too, should try to bring our fair position to the attention of the international community, particularly on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It is important to create Internet resources in different languages. The historical truth about the Nagorno-Karabakh should be brought to the attention of the world community. In that case, we can achieve even more impressive successes in the information warfare. Anyway, in recent years, Azerbaijan was able to break the information blockade," he said.

The Azerbaijani president also noted that the war against Armenian lobby continues and will continue.

"Therefore, we should be ready for this," he said.

President Aliyev also said that Azerbaijan sometimes becomes a victim of slander campaigns, noting that the media must be sensitive about this issue.

A considered, coordinated, purposeful, and libelous campaign was carried out against Azerbaijan which certainly attracted attention, he said, adding that Azerbaijan for its part has taken the necessary measures to put an end to this.

Later, teacher at the Baku State University Professor Shirmammad Huseynov, Member of the Parliament Agil Abbas, Chief Editor of Yeni Musavat newspaper Rauf Arifoglu, veteran journalist Yusif Karimov, and Chief Editor of 525-ci qazet newspaper Rashad Majid congratulated the president and expressed their views on the development of media in the country.

Concluding the event, the Azerbaijani president said that he has a positive attitude towards the stated proposals related to preparing professional journalists, shooting series for local TV channels, strengthening public support for older journalists, and creating more opportunities for the sale of newspapers.

President Aliyev said that he will take measures towards the implementation of these offers.