Ali Hasanov Praises Controlled Press, Promises Rewards and Sets Tasks

The presidential aide on social and political issues Ali Hasanov held a meeting on Friday with representatives of the pro-government media.

He thanked the editors for coverage on the "professional" preparation for the European Games.

The head of the Press Council Aflatun Amashov reported on the full mobilization to fight against those who oppose the European Games. He assured that the Azerbaijani journalism will try to preserve the European Games in history.

At the same time, he complained of social networks. "For example, in social networks profiles have been created that accuse me, Vahid Mustafayev, Arif Alishanov, Bakhtiyar Sadikhov et al., saying that the government "rented" us for a lifetime.

Azerbaijan should hold talks with the leadership of Facebook and other social networks to close these profiles. People have families and relatives and such things are unacceptable," complained Amashov.

In response Hasanov advised not to pay attention to that.

"Do not pay attention to such things. Do you think the Western countries do not have such sites or profiles? The newspaper The Guardian lost a trial to the royal family in the UK and it was forbidden to write about them.(Ali Hasanov, probably meant the publication of  the letters by the  Prince Charles. However, it is known that on  May 15, 2015, the British newspaper "The Guardian" won the trial in which the royal family accused the publishing house of illegal publication of  Prince Charles’s letters, written by him during the period from 2004 to 2005 to the leading politicians of the kingdom. - Turan).

Imagine that in Azerbaijan some authority bans the media to write about the President's family - what would happen and how would it be appreciated then?

The UN representative for Human Rights and the OSCE officials show double standards against Azerbaijan. If this is Western democracy, then we do not need such democracy," Hasanov said.

He pointed to the presence of certain forces that are not pleased with the success of Azerbaijan, as a Muslim country.

"We have to inform that the successes of Azerbaijan are not behind the achievements of the West. We must inform you that the position of the Azerbaijani media is not the same as say subjective "commissioners" and so forth," said Hasanov.

He also promised that by the 140^th anniversary of the national press journalists will be awarded medals and honorary titles. -06D-