Today (2 May) Azerbaijan Women Journalist Union “Woman’s Media Watch” conducted an event in which awards were presented in honor of World Press Freedom Day.
“Freedom of the press is continuously declining. However, we need the free press in a time when huge oil revenues are flowing into the country,” she stated.
OSCE Baku Office Head Jose Luis Herraro said he agreed with such statement. Then he said, “Press Freedom is the form to freely express thoughts.”
UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan Bruno Pueza cited UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. He said, “A free, secure and independent media is one of the foundations of peace and democracy. Attacks on freedom of press are attacks against international law, against humanity, against freedom itself — against everything the United Nations stands for.”
Then Press Council Charman Aflatun Amashov and “Yeni Nesil” Journalist Union Chairman Arif Aliyev expressed their opinions about the problems of journalism.
In the end, “Zerkalo” Newspaper Political Analyst Rauf Mirgadirov received an award for “Courage in Journalism,” “Azercell Telecom Company” received a award for “Support to Develop Journalism,” Radio Liberty’s staff received an award for “Service to Dialogue” nomination and “Echo” newspaper employee Dilbar Akhundzade received the “Loyalty to Journalism” award.
Photos from this can be viewed at
http://www.irfs.az/component/option,com_datsogallery/Itemid,30/func,viewcategory/catid,46/