Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BAKU6
2009-01-06 12:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baku
Cable title:
MORE GOAJ HARASSMENT OF RADIO LIBERTY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000006
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/06/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KHUM AJ
SUBJECT: MORE GOAJ HARASSMENT OF RADIO LIBERTY
REF: BAKU 3
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Donald Lu, for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000006
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/06/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KHUM AJ
SUBJECT: MORE GOAJ HARASSMENT OF RADIO LIBERTY
REF: BAKU 3
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Donald Lu, for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: The Ministry of Communications and
Information Technology is threatening to cut the Azerbaijan
office of Radio Liberty's satellite connection to Radio
Liberty's headquarters in Prague. This action appears to be
illegal, as Radio Liberty has a functioning agreement with
the Ministry for use of this equipment, and has paid the
appropriate fees. Removal of this satellite connection would
make it very difficult and expensive, but not impossible, for
Radio Liberty's Baku branch to continue its operations. The
Minister of Communications told the Charge today that he
would look into this harassment and that he did not think
there would be further problems. END SUMMARY
2. (C) After shutting down Radio Liberty's (known locally as
Radio Azadliq) access to FM frequencies on January 1
(reftel),on January 5 officials of the Ministry of
Communications and Information Technology informed the
station that there were problems with its use of a satellite
connection to Radio Liberty Headquarters in Prague. This
connection allows Radio Azadliq to transmit information (both
data and voice communication) to Prague, where it is
broadcast (via internet, shortwave, and satellite). Radio
Azadliq has an agreement, in force since 2007, for the use of
this connection in exchange for a fee. This agreement is
automatically renewed every year, and for calendar year 2009
it is in force and the fee has been paid. Similar systems
exist in 16 countries where Radio Liberty operates.
3. (C) On January 6 three officials from the Ministry of
Communication's Division of National Frequencies arrived at
Radio Azadliq headquarters and asked to inspect the equipment
used for this connection. Azadliq Bureau Chief Khadija
Ismayilova complied. After inspecting the servers, the
officials pulled out supplies to seal this equipment and make
it unusable. Ismayilova stopped the officials from doing so
without using force, and after several phone calls to the
Ministry, the officials left Azadliq's office peacefully.
4. (C) Radio Liberty headquarters plans to follow up on this
incident with a letter to the Ministry explaining that the
satellite connection is legal in line with their agreement,
and is unrelated to FM broadcasting. The Charge called the
Minister of Communications, who claimed to know nothing about
his officials visiting Azadliq. The Minister stated that the
only decision of the National Television and Radio Council
they have received regards FM broadcasts, and he promised to
look into the issue. He said that he did not think that this
would be a problem in future.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (C) While the lower level Ministry of Communications is
claiming this is a technical issue, it is clear that this
action is simply more harassment of the already battered
radio station. These same officials were the ones who sealed
ANS television station in 2006 when it was closed for
political reasons. It is unclear at this point, however,
whether these Ministry of Communications officials are acting
on their own on this issue, or whether this further
impediment to Azadliq's work has been ordered at a higher
level. The Embassy will raise this issue in a range of
meetings with government officials this week.
LU
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/06/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KHUM AJ
SUBJECT: MORE GOAJ HARASSMENT OF RADIO LIBERTY
REF: BAKU 3
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Donald Lu, for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: The Ministry of Communications and
Information Technology is threatening to cut the Azerbaijan
office of Radio Liberty's satellite connection to Radio
Liberty's headquarters in Prague. This action appears to be
illegal, as Radio Liberty has a functioning agreement with
the Ministry for use of this equipment, and has paid the
appropriate fees. Removal of this satellite connection would
make it very difficult and expensive, but not impossible, for
Radio Liberty's Baku branch to continue its operations. The
Minister of Communications told the Charge today that he
would look into this harassment and that he did not think
there would be further problems. END SUMMARY
2. (C) After shutting down Radio Liberty's (known locally as
Radio Azadliq) access to FM frequencies on January 1
(reftel),on January 5 officials of the Ministry of
Communications and Information Technology informed the
station that there were problems with its use of a satellite
connection to Radio Liberty Headquarters in Prague. This
connection allows Radio Azadliq to transmit information (both
data and voice communication) to Prague, where it is
broadcast (via internet, shortwave, and satellite). Radio
Azadliq has an agreement, in force since 2007, for the use of
this connection in exchange for a fee. This agreement is
automatically renewed every year, and for calendar year 2009
it is in force and the fee has been paid. Similar systems
exist in 16 countries where Radio Liberty operates.
3. (C) On January 6 three officials from the Ministry of
Communication's Division of National Frequencies arrived at
Radio Azadliq headquarters and asked to inspect the equipment
used for this connection. Azadliq Bureau Chief Khadija
Ismayilova complied. After inspecting the servers, the
officials pulled out supplies to seal this equipment and make
it unusable. Ismayilova stopped the officials from doing so
without using force, and after several phone calls to the
Ministry, the officials left Azadliq's office peacefully.
4. (C) Radio Liberty headquarters plans to follow up on this
incident with a letter to the Ministry explaining that the
satellite connection is legal in line with their agreement,
and is unrelated to FM broadcasting. The Charge called the
Minister of Communications, who claimed to know nothing about
his officials visiting Azadliq. The Minister stated that the
only decision of the National Television and Radio Council
they have received regards FM broadcasts, and he promised to
look into the issue. He said that he did not think that this
would be a problem in future.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (C) While the lower level Ministry of Communications is
claiming this is a technical issue, it is clear that this
action is simply more harassment of the already battered
radio station. These same officials were the ones who sealed
ANS television station in 2006 when it was closed for
political reasons. It is unclear at this point, however,
whether these Ministry of Communications officials are acting
on their own on this issue, or whether this further
impediment to Azadliq's work has been ordered at a higher
level. The Embassy will raise this issue in a range of
meetings with government officials this week.
LU