12:45, 4 December 2003

Reporters Without Borders Secretary-General dissatisfied with situation in Azerbaijan

A press conference of Robert Menard, Secretary-General of the Reporters Without Borders human rights organization, was held in Baku. According to Mr. Menard, his visit to Azerbaijan was caused by the pressure being put on journalists because of the October 15 and 16 events. "While meeting with official persons, I was not given the impression that they were ready to take concrete steps to solve the problems connected with the press," announced Mr. Menard. Pressure was placed on dozens of journalists, according to him. "The officials do not confirm that journalists were deliberately beaten by the police. The journalists assert the opposite," Mr. Menard said. He gave a negative evaluation to the fact that the investigation was being conducted with respect to journalists.

Mr. Menard also pointed to the lack of pluralism in the field of electronic mass media. He holds the state is not interested in the creation of national public television in Azerbaijan. "In spite of the commitments to the Council of Europe undertaken by Azerbaijan, it is tardy with the adoption of the law," Robert Menard said.

Source: REGNUM News Agency