Pyotr Mikhalko: freedom of the press is part of our dialogue with the Government of Azerbaijan

Baku/03.05.23/Turan: The role of the press and freedom in shaping human rights in Europe is undeniable and these values are an integral part of modern society,  the EU Ambassador to Azerbaijan Peter Mikhalko stated at a meeting with journalists on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day on Wednesday.

"Joseph Borrel, the head of the EU Foreign Policy Department, noted in his statement that any interference with freedom of expression is unacceptable. People need access to information from various sources. The role of the media is extremely important because they create an environment for debate. The most important role of the media is to be able to explain very complex issues in a language that is understandable to most people," Mikhalko said.

The European Union is a donor that supports reforms in Azerbaijan. "We are making every effort to ensure that modern standards are applied in Azerbaijan. The rule of law and freedom of the media play an important role in this. We are bringing to the attention of the Government and our partners the recommendations of the Venice Commission on the new media law. We try to ensure that all recommendations are reflected both in legislation and in practice," Mikhalko said.

Referring to economic ties, he noted that in 2022,  53% of Azerbaijan's exports were from EU countries. The trade turnover has doubled over the year.

In 2023, the EU allocated 5 thousand euros for the wiring of the Internet in rural areas of Azerbaijan. At the same time, the EU supported about 13 thousand small and medium-sized entrepreneurs, thanks to which more than 2 thousand jobs were created, the ambassador noted. According to him, the European Union is also the largest donor of mine clearance of the liberated territories.

Answering the question about the blocking of a number of websites in Azerbaijan, Mikhalko stressed that "freedom of the press is part of our negotiations and dialogue with the government of Azerbaijan." This also applies to the implementation of the recommendations of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe regarding the Media law.

On this issue, EU representatives held several meetings with the Media Development Agency and other institutions. "We have brought to their attention the recommendations of the Venice Commission and other authoritative structures, drawing attention to the restrictions in the legislation and what changes can be made to it. Freedom of the press should not be subject to any restrictions," he said.

It is necessary to create an environment in which journalists can work freely. They should not depend on anything," Mikhalko said. ---16B---