Journalists have the right to follow the process at all stages of elections.

In the first place, the media is meant to properly analyze the environment of the elections. These include candidates launching campaigns, voters participating in the elections, and the evaluation of the situation regarding the documentation of votes, said Ali Hasanov, the Azerbaijani president’s aide for public and political affairs.

Hasanov made the remarks at the seminar titled “Elections to the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan: the role and duties of media in pre-election campaign”, co-organized by the Presidential Administration, the Central Election Commission, and the Press Council in Baku Oct.2.

Hasanov said the media should focus on voter interest in the elections as well as the attitude of political circles and interested sides toward the elections.

“A media outlet is also a commercial organization. Therefore, candidates seeking extra promotion turn toward media outlets. In such cases, certain norms should be followed. These norms are envisaged in the Election Code, the State Election Commission’s decisions, and the law on mass media. The media should create equal conditions for all the sides prior to the elections. Thus, same conditions should be created for all to be promoted equally on a paid basis. The media’s activity should be based on the law on mass media, the Election Code and pluralistic policy of the government. What do we expect from the media? We regard media as a resource in shaping the internal and external image of Azerbaijan. Through the media, we learn general situation, the attitude toward the government and opposition and accordingly, determine foreign and domestic policy. We learn opinions of our opponents and how they win public support. Media is the mirror of the society”, he said.

The presidential aide went on to add that the activity of e-media is assessed in the context of the media as well.

“Media has a great role in shaping the image of the Azerbaijani state. Grants are allocated to the media from the state budget, competitions are held for journalists. However, none can say that the Azerbaijani government controls the activity of the media and defines its principles. As a government, we try to establish an effective partnership assessing the resource of the media. We, through the media, seek to protect state and national interests in the world. In this regard, the media’s activity is very important to us,” he said.

According to Hasanov, it is necessary to cooperate with the media to eliminate flaws in the electoral process in a constructive way.

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