A senior U.S. official on Wednesday reiterated Washington's commitment to human rights and free media "all around the world including in Azerbaijan."
Speaking to TURAN's US correspondent a senior State Department official expressed his concern over deteriorating media freedoms "among countries deemed to be our friends and partners."
"We all understand the role and importance of investigative journalism and free media," an official said.
When asked about a recent court decision in Azerbaijan to permanently block several independent online media outlets critical of the government, the official said, "we will continue to follow developments [in Azerbaijan]."
Late last week, a Baku court decided to block the websites of five media outlets, including the U.S. Congress-funded RFE/RL's Azeri language website.
Speaking to TURAN's Washington correspondent on Wednesday, May 17, the Congressional Helsinki Commission Chairman Senator Roger Wicker expressed his concern over the move.
"It is a real concern," he said. "We will continue to raise our concern at the leadership level."
A.Raufoglu
Washington, D.C.
Politics
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Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan made an unexpected statement during a government session, emphasizing the need for a strategic deal with Azerbaijan. According to him, the future peaceful coexistence of the two countries must be guaranteed for the next century, and addressing this issue is the most crucial and fundamental task for both sides.
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A new draft agreement on financing climate programs, unveiled at the 29th session of the UN Conference on Climate Change (COP29), proposes allocating at least $1.3 trillion (€1.23 trillion) annually for climate protection measures and adaptation to the impact of climate change, according to a 34-page document released on Wednesday. The draft, developed with input from developing nations, aims to address the needs of the world's poorest countries, though several contentious issues remain unresolved, AFP reported.
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On November 13, representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Afghan Taliban held talks in Baku as part of the COP29 conference. According to a report by Turan correspondent, the discussions took place behind closed doors and lasted for over an hour. No statements were made to the press following the meeting. Furthermore, conference security prevented journalists from asking questions to the meeting participants.
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Kichikhanim Khalilova, the wife of arrested public activist and first-group disabled person, Famil Khalilov, reported being followed during her time at the COP29 conference on November 13. She had been accredited in the "Green Zone" as a civil rights activist. From the moment she entered the conference area, a young man began to follow her.
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