<b>Umud Rahimoglu: “Community will benefit from the Adopted Defamation Law”</b><br /> <br /> As was informed a conference on “Decriminalization of Defamation” through legislation reform organized jointly by Press Council of the Azerbaijan Republic and OSCE Baku Office on May 11,2011. Government officials, Head of OSCE Baku Office, Mrs. Dunya Miyatovich, Special Representative on Press Freedom Issues, OSCE and media representatives covering all layers of Azerbaijan society participated in the conference.<br />
Umud Rahimoglu, Chairman, Azerbaijan National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI), Deputy Chairman of the Press Council of Azerbaijan spoke about the conference. As he stated the Defamation Law that will be useful document for Azerbaijan media representatives and for the community as a whole was the focus of discussion:”It is already long time Press Council of Azerbaijan holds debates on Defamation Law. In this respect the Press Council of Azerbaijan held several measurements with participation of local and international organizations. Mrs. Dunya Miyatovich, Special Representative on Press Freedom Issues, OSCE visited Press Council Office yesterday. We had discussed the issue in detail then. I think there will be very useful discussions in today’s conference too”.
U.Rahimoglu stated that this issue was the focus of attention during the official visit of Mrs. Alison McKenzie, Director of the IPI in February this year: “During all the meetings with Government officials and media representatives the Head of the International Press Institute Mrs. Alison McKenzie paid special attention to the discussions on Defamation Law”.
Stating the importance of today’s conference Mr. U. Rahimoglu noted that the mass media means of the country, the whole Azerbaijan community as well will benefit from the adoption of this law. All interlocutors stated that the Government officials were active participants of the discussion held on Difamation Law.
Information Department,
Azerbaijan National Committee of the
International Press Institute (IPI)