“When Azerbaijan was granted Council of Europe membership in 2001, it made commitments to secure independence of speech and media in the country, which are the fundamental bases of democratic society.”
According to APA, these notions have been reflected in the statement of the Chairman of European Council Ministers Committee, Foreign Minister of Spain Miguel Angel Moratinos and the President of Parliament Assembly of Council of Europe Luis Maria de Puch.
According to the information, Moratinos and de Puch stated that they received with concern the news regarding the decision of National TV and Radio Council to cease the broadcasting of foreign radio stations via FM frequencies in Azerbaijan.
The broadcasting of “Radio Liberty”, “Voice of America” and BBC via FM frequencies in Azerbaijan was ceased on 1 January 2009 on the basis of a decision adopted by NTRC on 30 December 2008.