05 December 2008, 20:44
Azeri authorities to consider the issue of western radio broadcasts on December 25
The NTRC (the National TV and Radio Council) of Azerbaijan is going to consider the issue of broadcasting by "Liberty", "the Voice of America" and the BBC on the country's national bands on December 25. This has been reported to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Nushiravan Magherramli, head of the NTRC, in response to the request to comment on the appeal of Miklosh Kharashti, OSCE special representative on media freedom, to continue the broadcasting of foreign radio stations.
According to Magherramli, one of two alternatives may be adopted by the meeting. The Council may take a final decision to stop the broadcasting of foreign radio stations. Alternatively, the final decision may be postponed by "3-5 months" in order to allow time for further negotiations and, depending on the results, to sign an inter-government agreement on the broadcasting of the said radio stations.
In his interview to Azeri journalists, Kharashti stated earlier that stopping the broadcasting of the radio stations means end of pluralism. He said that the proposals by Nushiravan Magherramli, head of the Azeri National TV and Radio Council, to the effect that foreign radio stations should broadcast through Internet or via satellites, were not serious.
"Internet can not be the main channel for broadcasting news. It is only an auxiliary source, even in the West, let alone in Azerbaijan where the quality of Internet is not satisfactory", noted Kharashti. "Radio stations are the most accessible and democratic source of information ".
Author: Faik Medzhid, CK correspondent
