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
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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

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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
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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
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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

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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