National interests should be journalists’ main priority: official
By Jamila Babayeva
Azerbaijani government respects and cares about all journalists, regardless of the pro-government or oppositional media outlets they work for.
The remarks were made by Head of the Department of Public and Political Issues of Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Ali Hasanov at the ceremony of awarding winners of journalistic essays on the occasion of Novruz Holiday in Baku on March 17.
The competition was announced by the State Fund for the Support of Mass Media Development under the Azerbaijani President.
Hasanov also said there are attempts to set up Azerbaijani journalists against the state and Azerbaijan's national interests.
"Unfortunately, some individuals who have poor understanding of statehood, can, for some time, join these movements and participate in campaigns against the state and the nation," Hasanov said. "But know that the state has never considered punishing these people. At best, they will be punished by society and history."
Hasanov also stressed that the Azerbaijani President has repeatedly met with journalists and called on them to never forget their patriotism, because everyone has one birthplace: Azerbaijan.
"Wherever you go, you will be distinguished from other nations by the fact that you are Azerbaijanis, the bearers of the Azerbaijanism ideology. As citizens of Azerbaijan, you can create an image of Azerbaijanism, and you should be proud that you are Azerbaijanis. Our national leader Heydar Aliyev has said, 'I have always been proud and I am proud today that I am an Azerbaijani'. What could be higher than that?" Hasanov said.
He went on to note that journalists belong to one of the most active groups of creative people, and Azerbaijani national leader Heydar Aliyev had always emphasized journalistic work.
"Hasan bey Zardabi laid the foundation of national press in Azerbaijan, but national leader Heydar Aliyev freed the national press from all the regulatory mechanisms, ensured its dynamic progress, and did everything possible for its full development," he said. "The foundations of freedom of speech were literally laid in Azerbaijan on August 6, 1998."
"Heydar Aliyev used to say that journalistic work requires selflessness. Today, one can say a lot about President Ilham Aliyev's attitude towards journalism. All of you know that when Ilham Aliyev was elected as President, he did not only continue democratic traditions, the foundation of which was laid by Heydar Aliyev, but fully demonstrated Azerbaijan's care and attention to national journalism and creative people."
Hasanov underscored that progressive measures were taken to improve the social welfare and living conditions of journalists under President Aliyev's orders on improving their social welfare and strengthening the logistics base of media.
"Azerbaijani media outlets are supported by the state," Hasanov said. "This contest envisages not only the creation of a competitive sphere for journalists, but also a campaign which serves the purpose of improving their welfare."
Speaking at the event, head of the State Fund for the Support of Mass Media Development Vugar Safarli provided information about the competition, and noted that the fund appreciates journalists' work.
He added that a number of competitions were organized in recent years to assess the activity of journalists.
Safarli said 96 essays were presented to the competition.
"The competition was held in 10 areas which are provided in the Concept of State Support for Mass Media Development. The essays submitted for the competition were evaluated by nine experts," he said. "Under the competition's rules, winners are three essays that gained the highest scores in each area. Along with this, 10 contestants were awarded honorable mention prizes."
Hasanov and other state officials presented awards to the winners.
Under the terms of the competition, each winner was awarded 1,000 manats; the incentive prize was 300 manats.