Council of Europe and “Yeni Nesil” Journalists’ Union have held a conference “Media and elections: democratic commitment of media” in Baku today. The event was organized within the joint project “Moldova and South Ossetia – support to free and fair elections” of the Council of Europe and European Commission. The conference brought together MPs, editors, jurnalists, NGO representatives and analysts including local and foreign exdperts on politics and media. Head of Azerbaijani delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Samad Seyidov delivering speech at the conference said that one of the commitments undertaken by Azerbaijan upon accession to the Council of Europe is the democratic development of media.
“Presidential elections should be held in line with the most democratic and international standards, everybody – civilians, media, politicians, participants of the election process should make efforts for this,” he said.

Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe to Azerbaijan Veronika Kotek said that the right of media was one of the main principles of the state. V.Korek also said she will observe elecetions in Azerbaijan. She also said the observation mission of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to the presidential elections in Azerbaijan will be approved at the meeting of the Council of Europe Bureau in Paris on September 5.“We pay attention to every aspect in pre-elec tion period. We regard creation of opportunity to media, journalists and activities of Central Election Commission as well as other organizations related with elections as main prioritities. Polling day and post-election period are significant issues for us. These are the key principles of our policy”, V.Kotek added.

© 2008 All rights reserved. Citing to ANS PRESS is necessary upon using news.