<b>IPI Azerbaijan National Committee held online conversation with IPI Secretariat office in Vienna. Main topic of online conversation was discussing the preparation of activities on the Oil, Gas and Media Conference to be held in the autumn 2012 in Baku. From Azerbaijan Umud Rahimoglu, Director of IPI Azerbaijan National Committee, AflatunAmashov, Chairperson of Press Council of Azerbaijan, Azer Hasret, member of IPI Azerbaijan National Committee and Nick Nwolisa, Coordinator of the Committee; while from IPI, Vienna, Michael Kudlak, and Melica Miletic, Conferences and Events Manger and Coordinatorrespectively took part in the conversation.</b>
Briefly the issue related to Khadija Ismayilli, a journalist, correspondent of “Liberty” Radio-Azerbaijan was touched. Concern was expressed on blackmailing action towards the journalist. And the IPI representatives stressed the necessity of addressing a support letter on behalf of IPI to Khadija Ismayilli and the IPI Azerbaijan National Committee was tasked to realize this mission.
Challenges of press in Azerbaijan including the issues of journalism in Middle Asia were the focus of attention during the online conversation. Umud Rahimoglu talked about the activities relating to establishment of IPI National Committee in Kazakhstan and visit that they are planning to make to Astana city jointly with Azer Hasret. He expressed his hope that the idea of creating the IPI National Committee in Kazakhstan will be realized.
It was decided to conduct the next online conversation at the end of March with participation of Alison Bethel McKenzie, IPI Executive Director.
Information Department,
IPI Azerbaijan National Committee