RUSTAM IBRAGIMBEKOV�S APPEAL TO PRESIDENT

To President of Azerbaijan Republic His Excellency Mr Ilham Aliyev Dear Mr. President, The public hearings "Azerbaijani Intelligentsia"s Role in Building of Independent Democratic State: Historical Experience and Modern Times" took place in Baku several days ago. Famous representatives of Azerbaijani cultural and scientific intelligentsia and heads of public organizations and civil society institutions have discussed the role that the Azerbaijani intelligentsia played in formation and establishment of secular, liberal and democratic traditions in Azerbaijan, creation and development of the first parliamentary democratic republic on the Muslim east, preservation of national identity during the Soviet times, resistance to the Armenian aggression, liberation from totalitarian ideology and transition to the pluralistic society during restoration of state independence. We have been working on a special appeal, containing results of the discussions, our concerns as well as goals and future plans aimed at support of stable and democratic development of our country. Dear Mr. President The participants of the public hearing have also decided to appeal to You in connection with release of journalist Eynulla Fatullayev and two young bloggers Adnan Hajizada and Emin Milli. We believe that freedom of speech and self-expression is among fundamental conditions for successful modernization of the country and building of stable, democratic and prosperous republic. In your recent decree devoted to celebration of the 135th jubilee of Azerbaijani press you mentioned role of independent Azerbaijani press in strengthening of ideas of liberalism and democracy in Azerbaijan. This does not mean that all that journalists write is true to the facts and impartial. The same is applied to some articles of the above-mentioned people and this has been mentioned during our discussions. But we are confident that open discussions, collision of opinions and search for public consensus is the only way for successful development of our country and formation of a high-professional journalism and independent media. Prosecution and conviction of journalists does not improve the situation, but cause tension in the society and cause a great damage to the country"s international image. Considering the afore-mentioned, we, participants of the hearings, request You to use your constitutional powers and release journalist Eynulla Fatullayev and bloggers Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizada from prison. Best regards Rustam Ibragimbekov, chairman of the hearings