‘ROUNDTABLE’ ON WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY HELD IN BAKU

Baku, May 3 (AzerTAc). The Azerbaijan Press Council and Coalition of Freedom of Speech and Journalistic Professionalism have hosted today a “roundtable” meeting on the World Press Freedom Day.
The event participants discussed the current state of freedom of media in Azerbaijan.
Chairman of the Press Council Aflatun Amashov spoke of the history of the World Press Freedom Day.
Amashov said serious steps were underway in his country to ensure freedom of speech and press.
Chief of sector of the Presidential Administration`s department for social and political affairs Vugar Aliyev praised the role of mass media in ensuring freedom of speech and press, as well as democracy and transparency. Aliyev said favorable conditions had been created in Azerbaijan for media to operate freely. He pointed to various relevant laws adopted by Azerbaijan`s parliament and decrees signed by the country`s President.
Aliyev added Azerbaijan`s legislation had been improved to bring mass media in line with international standards.
According to Aliyev, Azerbaijan leads regional countries in terms of freedom of media.
He also stressed the importance of the concept on state support for development of mass media approved by the country`s President.
The “Ethical Journalism Initiatives –Azerbaijan” project, what the participants called a “road map” to bring mass media in conformity with international standards, was presented during the meeting,