18 February 2003
CONGRESS TO DISCUSS PRESS COUNCIL, CODE OF ETHICS
More than 500 journalists in Azerbaijan are expected to attend a congress in the capital Baku next month to discuss the formation of a press council and adoption of a new code of ethics, reports the Journalists' Trade Union (JuHI). The purpose of the Press Council would be to resolve problems, such as accusations of libel or defamation, before they are taken to the courts.
The timing of the First Congress for Azerbaijani Journalists comes amidst increased legal harassment of independent media in Azerbaijan, JuHI says, including 13 lawsuits launched against the opposition newspaper "Yeni Musavat." Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) says the newspaper has been saddled with fines totaling 100,000 Euros (US$108,000).
That prompted the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Media Freedom Representative Freimut Duve to write to Azerbaijan's foreign minister last month expressing concern about the harassment.
Congress organisers are hoping the country's Parliament will debate a law authorizing the Press Council this spring.
Those interested in attending the congress should e-mail Azer Hasret at
hasret@cascfen.org.
Visit these links:
- JuHI:
www.juhiaz.org
- CASCFEN:
www.cascfen.org
- OSCE:
www.osce.org
- RSF:
www.rsf.fr
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