KIVDF: Change of first person or policy?

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- On April 4, Vugar Safarli, the Executive Director of the State Support for Media Development Fund (KIVDF) under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan was dismissed by the decree of the President of the country. Will this decision be any support for future media activities?

- Do not think that only Vugar Safarli interfered with the development of the media; and if he has been dismissed now there will be strong support for the media. You know, if your shoes are in holes, you cannot protect your feet from getting wet by changing socks. Shoes need to be fixed. That is, first, KIVDF itself must change the principles of activity, and change its goals. I am not talking about goals written on paper - in the regulations, the state program; I mean real goals.

- How do you evaluate the activities of Vugar Safarli and KIVDF in general? Can KIVDF support the media in any way?

- KIVDF has become a cemetery of print media and independent journalism in many issues in Azerbaijan. It was the most unprofessional organization in the country, working against all principles of fair competition. In fact, it has turned from a state body into a personal account.

- For many years, it was believed that Vugar Safarli managed the money and apartments allocated for KIVDF as he wanted. However, the dismissal of Vugar Safarli happened only these days. Why do you think this decision was made now?

- Probably, they were looking for a candidate to replace him. They also probably thought how to launch a new system that was tied to one person. It is also possible that additional problems caused by long-term uncertainty began to be felt more deeply.

- After the dismissal of Ali Hasanov, it was believed that the officials working under his supervision would be dismissed. Along with the names of the chair of the Press Council Aflatun Amashov, the chair of the National Broadcasting Council Nushiravan Maharramli, the name of the chair of KIVDF Vugar Safarli was also mentioned. However, after the dismissal of Ali Hasanov, Vugar Safarli did not provide KIVDF with money for his media. Do you think that after Vugar Safarli, purges in this area will continue?

- I do not see another option. The fact is that the activities and coordination of these organizations were based on the principle of individual communication. If the “key keeper” has disappeared, then the “shutters” must also disappear. Otherwise, the new system manager will never fully control these structures.

- Ahmad Ismayilov, the newly appointed KIVDF chair, is little known in the media. How correct is it to appoint to this position a person who does not know this area?

- As far as I know, Ahmad Ismayilov has experience in administration and organization, but he is not a person “cooked” in the media. However, it all depends on the management and decision-making mechanism of KIVDF. Perhaps a management mechanism will be created that benefits the strong organizational skills of an executive director who is far from the media. As they say, “If you see traces of flour on a person”, do not rush to call him “a miller”. There are many unknowns. I regret this, because, in my opinion, it was necessary to first find out the unknowns, and then determine who to entrust the post. However, the decision has already been made. Wish it be useful for general work and the media.

- Is there a need for an organization like KIVDF? How should this structure function, if necessary?

- In one form or another, most countries are trying to support the development of the media: some by state order, some by means of benefits, others by grants, etc. There is no need to dismantle the existing structure, especially in the current material and technical situation in Azerbaijan Media that are in deep crisis. It all depends on what basis the Fund’s work will be restructured and whether there will be such changes at all.