US keen on resuming foreign radio broadcasts
The United States is keen on resuming the broadcasts
of foreign radio stations in Azerbaijan, Donald Lu, US Charge
d`Affaires, has told Radio Liberty.
Radio Liberty, Voice of America and the BBC were removed from Azerbaijani airwaves on January 1, according to a decision of the country`s broadcasting regulator, the National Television and Radio Council. The NTRC chairman, Nushiravan Maharramli, has announced that it would only be possible to listen to foreign radio stations on satellite, cable or internet networks since 2009 and that reserving Azerbaijan`s radio frequencies for national broadcasts was in keeping with international norms.
Lu expressed disappointment with the halt of foreign radio broadcasts, saying the US broadcasting body, as well as the BBC, were in talks with Azerbaijani authorities in an effort to again begin broadcasting.
The diplomat warned that failure to resume the broadcasts would have an adverse impact on freedom of speech and democratic development in Azerbaijan. He added that the U.S. has been cooperating with the government of Azerbaijan since the country gained independence, and this cooperation has been promoting democracy and freedom of expression in the country.
Andres Herkel, a co-rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), has pledged to raise the radio broadcasts issue at the group`s winter session. He told the local news website, www.day.az, that the NTRC`s decision was not a sign of democratic development in the country.
Herkel added that he would pay a visit to Baku after the PACE`s January session.
Commenting on the matter, head of the President`s Office socio-political department, Ali Hasanov, said returning FM frequencies to the disposal of foreign radio stations was not on agenda.
"Discussions are under way on alternate options for the airing of these radio stations that are widely accepted in the world," he said.
Hasanov noted that the government was expecting proposals to that end from the NTRC, other entities dealing with TV and radio broadcasts as well as executives of the foreign broadcasters.
He added that discussions with the foreign radio stations would be continued.
Radio Liberty, Voice of America and the BBC were removed from Azerbaijani airwaves on January 1, according to a decision of the country`s broadcasting regulator, the National Television and Radio Council. The NTRC chairman, Nushiravan Maharramli, has announced that it would only be possible to listen to foreign radio stations on satellite, cable or internet networks since 2009 and that reserving Azerbaijan`s radio frequencies for national broadcasts was in keeping with international norms.
Lu expressed disappointment with the halt of foreign radio broadcasts, saying the US broadcasting body, as well as the BBC, were in talks with Azerbaijani authorities in an effort to again begin broadcasting.
The diplomat warned that failure to resume the broadcasts would have an adverse impact on freedom of speech and democratic development in Azerbaijan. He added that the U.S. has been cooperating with the government of Azerbaijan since the country gained independence, and this cooperation has been promoting democracy and freedom of expression in the country.
Andres Herkel, a co-rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), has pledged to raise the radio broadcasts issue at the group`s winter session. He told the local news website, www.day.az, that the NTRC`s decision was not a sign of democratic development in the country.
Herkel added that he would pay a visit to Baku after the PACE`s January session.
Commenting on the matter, head of the President`s Office socio-political department, Ali Hasanov, said returning FM frequencies to the disposal of foreign radio stations was not on agenda.
"Discussions are under way on alternate options for the airing of these radio stations that are widely accepted in the world," he said.
Hasanov noted that the government was expecting proposals to that end from the NTRC, other entities dealing with TV and radio broadcasts as well as executives of the foreign broadcasters.
He added that discussions with the foreign radio stations would be continued.
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