Baku, July 23, AZERTAC

“National leader Heydar Aliyev laid the foundation of a new generation media in Azerbaijan,” the Azerbaijani President`s Aide for Public and Political Affairs Ali Hasanov has told journalists.

"In 1998, the national leader abolished all the regulatory mechanisms, and for the first time media censorship in post-Soviet area. The national leader created all the necessary conditions for the development of journalism in independent Azerbaijan. Currently under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani government is taking all necessary measures towards developing the media. "

“President Ilham Aliyev met with members of the Board of Directors of the Press Council meeting on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of the national press. During the meeting the head of state shared his views about the activities of the media and highlighted their duties.”

The Presidential Aide said: "As you know, the Azerbaijani President signed a special decree in connection with the 140th anniversary of the national press. According to the Decree a plan of action was adopted and significant events were organized by Azerbaijan Press Council, State Fund for Support of Media Development and the Presidential Administration, with media representatives closely involved."

“The Azerbaijani government does not feel itself beyond the media, meeting the concerns of media as its own challenges, taking proper care of representatives of the media. The President emphasized this in his speech yesterday. The head of state underlined that Azerbaijan does not imagine itself without freedom of media, that media freedom is an integral part of our society,” he added.