US congressman worried by halt of radio broadcasts
A US congressman has expressed deep concern over the
recent halt of the broadcasts of foreign radio stations in
Azerbaijan.
"Following threats to take Radio Liberty and Voice of America off the FM frequencies, Baku on January 1 did what it intended," chairman of the US Helsinki Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, Democratic Congressman Alcee Hastings, said in the legislature.
Radio Liberty, Voice of America and the BBC were removed from national airwaves on January 1, according to the NTRC`s decision, which had been initially announced on October 31. The three radio stations are presently available only on satellite, cable or internet networks.
Hastings claimed that the official pretext of this decision was the 2002 law which stipulates that Azerbaijan`s radio frequencies are reserved for national broadcasts.
"On November 24, the Helsinki Commission forwarded a letter to President Ilham Aliyev co-signed by me, co-chairman, Senator Benjamin Cardin and Senate minority member Christopher Smith, calling for revisiting the decision. We had warned that taking the congressionally-funded Radio Liberty and Voice of America off the FM frequencies would be an unwise and unfriendly step. We also indicated that terminating these broadcasts was, by far, not the best way to start a relationship with US President-elect Barack Obama. But Baku failed to take this into account. I would also like to note that they have not even replied to us since November 24."
Hastings claimed that the decision to stop airing foreign radio stations could be explained only by the desire to limit public access to information in Azerbaijan. He said that, as noted by the Department of State on December 30, these media organizations play a vital role in democratic debates as well as in providing free exchange of ideas. If implemented, the NTRC`s decision would be a major step back from freedom of speech that would, also, slow down democratic reforms underway in the country. Hastings said he fully subscribed to these conclusions, stressing that the halt of radio broadcasts would adversely affect US-Azerbaijan relations.
"I regret that President Ilham Aliyev will have to spend time during a meeting with his counterpart Barack Obama on discussions as to why Baku has shut down the broadcasts of the US-funded radio stations, instead of talking about ways of deepening bilateral relations," the American lawmaker said.
According to Hastings, the Helsinki Commission will discuss during future hearings ways of continuing US international broadcasts.
"Following threats to take Radio Liberty and Voice of America off the FM frequencies, Baku on January 1 did what it intended," chairman of the US Helsinki Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, Democratic Congressman Alcee Hastings, said in the legislature.
Radio Liberty, Voice of America and the BBC were removed from national airwaves on January 1, according to the NTRC`s decision, which had been initially announced on October 31. The three radio stations are presently available only on satellite, cable or internet networks.
Hastings claimed that the official pretext of this decision was the 2002 law which stipulates that Azerbaijan`s radio frequencies are reserved for national broadcasts.
"On November 24, the Helsinki Commission forwarded a letter to President Ilham Aliyev co-signed by me, co-chairman, Senator Benjamin Cardin and Senate minority member Christopher Smith, calling for revisiting the decision. We had warned that taking the congressionally-funded Radio Liberty and Voice of America off the FM frequencies would be an unwise and unfriendly step. We also indicated that terminating these broadcasts was, by far, not the best way to start a relationship with US President-elect Barack Obama. But Baku failed to take this into account. I would also like to note that they have not even replied to us since November 24."
Hastings claimed that the decision to stop airing foreign radio stations could be explained only by the desire to limit public access to information in Azerbaijan. He said that, as noted by the Department of State on December 30, these media organizations play a vital role in democratic debates as well as in providing free exchange of ideas. If implemented, the NTRC`s decision would be a major step back from freedom of speech that would, also, slow down democratic reforms underway in the country. Hastings said he fully subscribed to these conclusions, stressing that the halt of radio broadcasts would adversely affect US-Azerbaijan relations.
"I regret that President Ilham Aliyev will have to spend time during a meeting with his counterpart Barack Obama on discussions as to why Baku has shut down the broadcasts of the US-funded radio stations, instead of talking about ways of deepening bilateral relations," the American lawmaker said.
According to Hastings, the Helsinki Commission will discuss during future hearings ways of continuing US international broadcasts.
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