AZERBAIJAN: RULING PARTY TAKES FIRST STEPS TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BAKU 000805 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: RULING PARTY TAKES FIRST STEPS TO ADDRESS DETERIORATING MEDIA SITUATION Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES DONALD LU PER 1.4(B,D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On June 21, the Yeni Azerbaijan Party hosted a conference entitled "Media and Society." It was well-attended by representatives of all major media outlets and Members of Parliament, and speakers conveyed a wide range of views. Separately on June 21, in a meeting with the DCM, Presidential Advisor Ali Hasanov said that the GOAJ is considering possible measures, including a decree to address the media's concerns and a pardon of journalists. Based on Hasanov's comments to the DCM, coupled with his remarks at the media conference and then later to the press, we believe that the GOAJ is seriously considering releasing at least some of the high-profile jailed journalists through a Presidential pardon, likely around National Press Day on July ¶22. While pardoning the jailed journalists would be a very welcome step towards creating the foundation for a greater media freedom environment, it would be only a short-term fix for an issue that needs a long-term solution. END SUMMARY YAP'S MEDIA CONFERENCE -------------- ¶2. (U) The Yeni Azerbaijan Party's (YAP's) June 21 "Media and Society" conference was well-attended by representatives of all major media outlets as well as Members of Parliament (MPs). YAP Executive Secretary (and de-facto Chair) Ali Ahmadov opened and moderated the conference, stating that while freedom of speech is important to Azerbaijan's democratic development, "we have to be careful how we exercise this right; it should not be exercised at the expense of others." Pointing out that advertisement is essential to support the media financially, Ahmadov said the heads of many newspapers complain that they cannot sell advertising. Ahmadov continued that journalists need to understand that independent businessmen are not interested in purchasing space in "political papers." Ahmadov said that everyone has the right to protect his/herself by pursuing cases of defamation through the courts. The alternative, according to Ahmadov, would be violence. ¶3. (U) A wide range of media outlets were represented at the conference - pro-government, opposition, and independent. Speakers included Media Council Chair Aflatun Amashov; Azerbaijan Journalists' Union Chair and Editor-In-Chief of Zerkalo and Ayna newspapers Elchin Shikli; Azadliq newspaper Editor-In-Chief Ganimat Zahidov; Yeni Musavat newspaper Deputy Editor Azer Aykhan; Baku Khabar newspaper Editor-In-Chief Aydin Guliyev; Media Council Deputy Chair and AzTV Department Head Gulu Mahaghamali; and 525 newspaper Editor-In-Chief and Media Council member Rashad Majid. Some opposition journalists accused the GOAJ of making the media environment difficult, but most conference participants agreed that there is need for greater cooperation between the media, the GOAJ, and the public. Many brought up the fact that more than 3,000 media outlets are registered in Azerbaijan, pointing out the need for competition to whittle this number down to a more reasonable volume of stronger, truly independent outlets. Several mentioned the need for greater adherence to ethical standards for journalism. Despite opposing views on how to handle defamation cases, virtually all speakers agreed that journalists should not be jailed for their work. ¶4. (U) About ten MPs were present, many of whom spoke, including: Chair of Parliament's Legal Policy and State Building Commission, ruling party MP Ali Huseynov; ruling party MP Gular Ahmadova; independent MP Elmira Akhundova; "opposition" Ana Veten Party MP Fazail Aghamali; independent Justice Party MP Ilyas Ismayilov; now-independent MP and former Popular Front Party Presidential candidate Gudrat Hasanguliyev; and ruling party MP and Azerbaijan newspaper Editor-In-Chief Bakhtiyar Sadigov. None of the MPs who spoke supported decriminalizing libel in the near future; some opposed it indefinitely, while others said that Azerbaijan "is not ready." A few brought up the possibility of solving these cases outside of court, or creating a sort of gentlemen's agreement among editors on off-limits topics. Hasanguliyev said he had requested that Ahmadov appeal to the President to release the jailed journalists. Like Ahmadov, he also cautioned that without a legal penalty for defamation, "people will take punishment into their own hands, perhaps even through violence." ¶5. (U) Presidential Advisor for Social and Political Affairs Ali Hasanov gave closing remarks, asking how internationals can criticize the media situation in Azerbaijan when journalists have been jailed in the U.S. and in Europe. Personally, Hasanov said, he did not want to see journalists jailed; he wished that they could be released and then "find their way in life." While the Presidential Apparat takes BAKU 00000805 002 OF 003 into consideration the international community's opinion on the media situation, Hasanov said, if one insults his/her neighbor, what is the reaction supposed to be? Hasanov said that Azerbaijanis highly value honor, and do not take insult lightly; imagine, he continued, if all 60,000 journalists in Azerbaijan behaved irresponsibly. What then? He said that while he "hopes" for a Presidential pardon of the jailed journalists, those guilty of defamation should be punished. According to Hasanov, journalists need to keep the "powerful Armenian diaspora" in mind when writing, to create a positive image of Azerbaijan abroad. He said that while criticizing the GOAJ is necessary, no one has the right to make allegations of criminal activity against government officials unless a court has found them guilty. INDEPENDENT MEDIA REMAINS SKEPTICAL -------------- ¶6. (U) Despite the relatively positive tone of the meeting, Embassy media contacts remain skeptical about the GOAJ's commitment to media freedom. Baku Khabar newspaper Editor-In-Chief Aydin Guliyev told PAO that the conference merely gave the two sides (i.e., the media and the government) an opportunity to express their widely-known views. Guliyev was particularly critical of Press Council Chairman Amashov's "weak" intervention. Yeni Musavat Editor-In-Chief Rauf Arifoglu did not participate in the conference, but expressed similar views questioning whether this initiative would lead to anything. A front-page June 22 article in the leading independent daily newspaper Zerkalo sharply criticized the conference, questioned the GOAJ's desire to ban "political" media outlets when most of the television stations are under government control, and called for a new format for a more effective dialogue between the media, the public, and the government. ALI HASANOV'S THOUGHTS -------------- ¶7. (C) The DCM used his June 21 courtesy call with Ali Hasanov to raise our concerns about recent pressure on the independent media. Hasanov defended the GOAJ's record on media freedom, noting that journalists are free to criticize the government, but should not "disgrace" or criticize the personal lives of individuals. He claimed that the GOAJ has no interest in leaving media issues unresolved, nor in seeing Azerbaijan's international image suffer. He described YAP's media conference and the interventions of the pro-opposition media as "constructive." For his part, he said that he had informed the other participants that the GOAJ is prepared to work with them to address their concerns. ¶8. (C) Hasanov specifically noted to the DCM that the President is considering personally meeting with media representatives to hear their concerns, perhaps shortly before National Press Day on July 22. (NOTE: The media and the Press Council have been suggesting such a meeting for most of the last year.) Another measure under consideration is the issuance of a Presidential decree intended to address a number of the media's concerns, including the lack of advertising revenue and a possible pardon of some of the seven imprisoned journalists. He stressed, however, that no final decision had yet been made. Moreover, Hasanov confirmed his readiness to lead a working group between the government and the international community to develop an action plan to improve media freedom. ¶9. (C) Hasanov complained that we are discussing the "symptoms: and not the "source" of the problem, which he attributed to a lack of professionalism and ethics among the vast majority of journalists. Hasanov claimed that perhaps 100 of Azerbaijan's 60,000 journalists are truly "professional." To address that problem, Hasanov noted the need for a permanent training program. PAO suggested that the new American-Azerbaijan Journalism Academy could form the nucleus of such a program and invited Hasanov to come and address the students. Asked about the role of the Press Council, Hasanov agreed that the Council should be strengthened so that it could more effectively address libel and defamation charges outside of the courts. He was adamant, however, that Azerbaijan is not ready to decriminalize defamation and libel. COMMENT -------------- ¶10. (C) While comments from ruling party representatives at the "Media and Society" conference were not particularly constructive, we view the party's initiative to organize the conference - and Hasanov's indication of possible measures to be taken in the coming weeks - as positive. Azerbaijan needs BAKU 00000805 003 OF 003 a long-term solution to its difficult media environment. A Presidential decree, perhaps including a pardon for the seven journalists currently in prison, would be a strong signal of support for the media, but it remains to be seen whether such measures would address the longer-term issues of decriminalize libel, ending lawsuits against journalists, and rigorously investigating and prosecuting violence against journalists. We will continue to engage with all levels of GOAJ contacts to press the need for an environment more conducive to media freedom. LU