President Allocates Funds to Mass Media

On 31 July President Ilham Aliyev (right) signed a decree to give out one time financial aid to mass media institutions. According to the decree, 38 mass media institutions will each receive one time aid in the amount of 5000 AZN (6200 USD approximately) from the president’s reserve fund. (1-AUG-2008)
    
Written by Shahla Ismayilova/HRH Azerbaijan on the basis of materials from Turan News Agency, Yeni Musavat newspaper, ANS TV channel, IRFS

Editors of several newspapers were conducted with in order to learn their positions on the allocated funds and what they will do with the money. Editor-in-Chief of “Ayna” and “Zerkalo” Newspapers Elchin Shikhly (right) answered the questions briefly using a proverb, “Don’t look a gift horse in the teeth.”

“This aid comes from money obtained through Azerbaijan’s resources, and as Azeri citizens, we also have a share in the money coming from these resources,” said “Azadlig” Newspaper Editor-in-Chief Azer Ahmadov. It would be better to release one of the imprisoned journalists or to reduce the prison term in half instead of this aid, he added. Ahmadov emphasized that THE influence and circulation of the newspapers haven’t been considered when signing the decree.  According to him, this amount might be enough for any weekly or monthly newspaper’s work for a year. However, it’s not enough for one week of a daily newspaper like “Azadlig”.

“Turan” Information Agency Director Mehman Aliyev (right) said that they couldn’t decide yet what to do with the money. “I think we should give it to journalists who are in need. The amount is not big enough to solve any problem of the editorial office. This is a good step anyway. At least, we can buy a couple of computers with this money,” said M. Aliyev, adding that it was notable that the list includes opposition newspapers’ names as well. M. Aliyev also added that he hopes the president will pardon the imprisoned journalists and take continuous steps to improve the situation of the press.

“Azerbaijan” Newspaper Editor-in-Chief, parliamentarian, Bakhtiyar Sadigov assessed the fund allocated for the mass media by President Ilham Aliyev as support for the development of speech and press freedom. “Without any discrimination, 5000 AZN will be allocated to different opposition, government and independent newspapers. 5000 AZN allocated from the government budget is not enough to pull the press out from existing difficulties, but this amount will help the Azerbaijani Press to overcome difficulties at least a little.”

Press Council Chairman Aflatun Amashov (right) assessed the assistance allocated by the president as support for the development of the mass media. 5000 AZN was allocated from the government budget in connection with 22 July holiday to assist in press development. 

Amashov expressed his position on the appeal that was sent to the president, which remains unanswered, to release imprisoned journalists. He said he hopes that the president will soon consider this issue. “The Press Council sent numerous appeals to President Ilham Aliyev up to now. Last time we appealed to the president about the imprisoned journalists. However, to pardon and free the journalists is the work of the government, not ours,” he added.

The reaction of imprisoned journalists’ relatives

Rana Zahidova, wife of imprisoned “Azadlig” Newspaper employee, satiric/journalist Sakit Zahidov’s wife, expressed doubts on the decrees. “It was for the first time that I was hearing about the government support for the newspapers. Instead of this, they could have pardoned one of the imprisoned journalists on National Press Day (ed: Azerbaijani national press was first founded on 22 July 1875 by Hasan Bey Zardabi when he published “Akinchi”. Every year on 22 July National Press Day in Azerbaijan is observed). This would have been better,” said Zahidova.

Emin Fatullayev, the father of imprisoned editor-in-chief of “Gundalik Azerbaijan” and “Realniy Azerbaijan” newspapers Eynulla Fatullayev, thinks that the decrees don’t have anything to do with the imprisoned journalists or their families. “What good does this do for us? Good luck to those who have been allocated the funding. It would be better to release the journalists. However, we weren’t surprised when the pardon didn’t happen on the National Press Day. We didn’t hope for the pardon decree, anyway,” said Fatullayev.

“I am not happy about 5,000 AZN allocated for the newspapers or about decree on the concept of ‘Government Support for the Development of Mass Media in the Azerbaijan Republic.’ This won’t pull the Azerbaijani press out of the grave situation it has already fallen in.” This was said by imprisoned “Azadlig” Newspaper Editor-in-chief Ganimat Zahid’s wife Ayanda Mursaliyeva.