Azernews.Az

The United States has expressed "deep concern" over reports that Azerbaijan`s broadcasting regulator may discontinue local radio broadcasts of international media in 2009, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), the Voice of America (VoA) and the BBC.
Robert Wood, the State Department deputy spokesman, said in a statement that the country`s National Television and Radio Council (NTRC) had announced the measure on October 31 without advance notice to the affected broadcasters or with the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which provides oversight for all U.S. international broadcasting.
"The United States believes that international broadcasters such as Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the BBC have enriched public debate in Azerbaijan and contribute to Azerbaijan`s democratic development. Discontinuing such broadcasts would send a disturbing message. We are seeking clarification from the government of Azerbaijan," the statement said.
The NTRC chairman, Nushiravan Maharramli, had said it would only be possible to listen to VoA, Radio Liberty and BBC on satellite, cable or internet networks next year and that reserving Azerbaijan`s radio frequencies for national broadcasts was in line with international experience.
US Ambassador Anne Derse echoed Wood`s statement, saying the U.S. was frustrated with the discussions regarding the suspension of Western radio broadcasts. She added that Washington wanted to cooperate with Azerbaijan in a more objective and democratic environment. Derse said her country`s cooperation with Azerbaijan included the development of democratic institutions, which necessitates strong, professional and unbiased media outlets. "I think that these issues are both in our interests and in the interests of our Azerbaijani colleagues. I will continue dialogue with the Azerbaijani side on this issue."
Peter Semneby, the European Union special representative for South Caucasus and Central Asia, has also expressed concern at the planned removal of foreign radio stations from national airwaves. However, he said there was still hope that the government would not take this move.
"We are working with the Azerbaijani government to ensure diversity of the national media to the maximum extent possible," Semneby said.
Novruz Mammadov, head of the President`s Office international relations department, has said the measure was Azerbaijan`s internal affair and politicizing the radio frequency issue was wrong.
"If the countries we are closely cooperating with call for building a society based on a certain legislative framework, accordingly, relevant issues should be addressed in our country in the same law-abiding fashion," Mammadov told a local TV channel. "In other words, the solution of such issues in Azerbaijan should be the same as in other countries. But there is one issue here: it has become very easy to politicize anything in Azerbaijan."