Azerbaijani journalists would not avoid "sharp corners" in covering relations with Armenia

Media people of Azerbaijan are sceptical to the idea of "stopping hostile actions in the information environment" between Azerbaijani and Armenian mass media, offered by Gegam Bagdasaryan, President of the Stepanakert Press Club.

In the opinion of Elchin Shikhly, Chairman of Association of Journalists of Azerbaijan and editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Aina-Zerkalo", "any insults in media of whole nations or individuals for their nationality are really inadmissible." However, in his opinion, until the war continues and "the occupation of the Azerbaijani territories is not eliminated," any information armistice is unreal.

For example, as Mr Shikhly has noted, "the Azerbaijani press cannot but write that the former and present leaders of Armenia were involved in massacres against the civil Azerbaijani population and in the Khodzhaly tragedy."

At the same time, he noted that among Armenian media professionals there are many sane people, capable to hold dialogue. "We met more than once and discussed the issues of the role of mass media in assisting to peaceful settlement of the conflict. But, unfortunately, they, however same as I, are not able to really influence the processes," said Mr Shikhly.

Khikmet Babaoglu, editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Eni Azerbaijan" (organ of the same-name party in power), believes that "the Armenians' initiative" was caused by recent Azerbaijan's successes in the information sphere. In his opinion, "through active efforts of the Azerbaijani state, public and mass media, the world learns more and more truth about the Karabakh conflict, Khodzhaly genocide and occupation of Azerbaijani territories."

Azer Ahmedov, Director of the newspaper "Azadlyg" (Freedom), voices against any contacts with Armenia, including any information exchange, in the conditions of continuing occupation. "Signing an armistice in current conditions is all the same as to imagine signing an armistice between Stalin and Hitler when German troops stood near Stalingrad," he said.

In the opinion of Emin Guseinov, Director of the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS), independent professional media, while respecting the journalistic ethics, never admit insulting whole nations or individuals on the basis of their nationalities.

"Such methods are mostly characteristic for the bodies, serving as propaganda megaphones of the authorities and political circles," Mr Guseinov believes.