David Dadge: “The likelihood of holding IPI World Congress and 59th Assembly is Baku is high”.<br /> Janne Virkunnen, IPI Chairman and David Dadge, IPI director are in an official visit in Baku by the invitation of IPI National Committee for Azerbaijan and International Eurasia Press Fund.<br /> On May 11, IPI officials had meeting with IEPF collaborators, members of IPI National Committee for Azerbaijan, Yadigar Mammedli, Chairman of “League of Democratic Journalists” and Azer Hesret, CASCFEN Chairman. IPI director, David Dadge noted the possibility for Azerbaijan to host IPI World Congress and 59th Assembly: “We want this event to be held in Azerbaijan. <br />
However, the final decision is typically given by IPI executive board. We have to persuade IPI executive board that, although some problems on media in Azerbaijan exist, several heartwarming steps have been taken on the direction of free expression in Azerbaijan”
Umud Rahimoghlu, IEPF Chairman and Director of IPI National Committee for Azerbaijan has talked about necessity of that congress “We spoke with initiative to host IPI World congress in 2006. We kept talks also with Governmental officials at the same time. Visit IPI officials to Baku is the one part of that efforts. We deeply believe that we will achieve our goals. We now are waiting for signing Understanding memorandum. World Media condition, negative and positive sides of media situation in Azerbaijan will be discussed in expected World Congress. It will positively influence on Azerbaijan media. We have hundreds of journalists having big problems. Outcomes of expected World Congress will surely reflect their life also”
After the meeting guests had visited the Shehids’ Avenue.
At the first half of the day IPI officials have been in Azerbaijan Press Council. They had a meeting with executive board of Azerbaijan Press Council’s Chairman by headship of Aflatun Amashov, chairman and with some of Chief Editors of local newspapers. Aflatun Amashov informed our guests widely about situation over media in Azerbaijan.
Janne Virkunnen and David Dadge briefly informed participants about International Press Institute, World Congress and Assembly. “The top objective of holding annual IPI World Congress and Assembly in different parts of the globe is to bring together world journalists. For the duration of that kind of meeting information sharing among journalists creates and this is crucial in the of development free media”, said David Dadge in his speech.
Both of IPI officials highly regarded efforts that Azerbaijan Press Council do.
Afterwards, Ali Hasanov, Head of the social-political Department of President Administration met IPI officials. Ali Hasanov brought to attention of the guests that Azerbaijan side is interested to host those kind events.
In all the meetings, guests have been accompanied by Umud Rahimoghlu, IEPF Chairman and Lutful Kabir, International Adviser of IEPF.
IEPF Information Department