MINELRES: Fwd: Azerbaijan: New Language Requirements for TV, Radio Broadcasting

[MINELRES moderator]

Original sender: Human Rights Center of Azerbaijan <aihmm@lycos.de>


RFE/RL Media Matters Vol. 3, No. 24, 30 June 2003

AZERBAIJAN 

NEW LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR TV, RADIO BROADCASTING 
Azerbaijan's National Council for Television and Radio adopted on 25
June regulations on the use of the state language (Azerbaijani) in
television and radio broadcasts, Turan reported. The council ruled that
a minimum of 75 percent of all programs, announcements, and
advertisements on both state-controlled and privately owned television
and radio stations must be in Azerbaijani. It also stipulated that
announcers and moderators must speak fluent and well-articulated
Azerbaijani. The council further ruled that all television and radio
stations must cover news developments of "national and special state
importance." ("RFE/RL Newsline," 26 June)


NGO CRITICIZES DELAY IN ADOPTING LAW ON PUBLIC BROADCASTING IN
AZERBAIJAN 
The Baku office of the nongovernmental organization Internews issued a
statement on 24 June deploring the postponement until the fall
parliamentary session of the third reading of a draft bill on public
broadcasting, Turan reported. The bill was passed in its second reading
in October 2002. The statement noted that state television remains under
the control of the presidential administration. ("RFE/RL Newsline," 25
June)

(Compiled by Catherine Cosman)
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