The goal of the Azerbaijani government is to continue to create a modern, developing, democratic society with all the freedoms, said Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.

The president made the remarks during a meeting with a group of participants of the 5th News Agencies World Congress in Baku Nov. 17.

“When you have free internet, no censorship and 75 per cent of the population as internet users how can you restrict the press?! If you have two million people on social media, Facebook and Twitter, how can you restrict the press?! We do not have this political goal in front of us. Our goal is to continue to create a modern, developing, democratic society with all the freedoms,” said President Aliyev.

According to him, sometimes Azerbaijan is criticized for absence of freedom of assembly, which is completely wrong.

“It is enough to look at the rallies of opposition, which took place this summer. They did not gather many people, they were less than yesterday’s audience at the Heydar Aliyev Center. But they were free, there were no restrictions. Therefore freedom of press in Azerbaijan is fully provided. Some cases related to journalists should not be taken out of the context,” added the president.

“When you say the world who do you mean? You always like to speak on behalf of the world,” Ilham Aliyev continued. That is what I have witnessed for 13 years of my presidency. But the world is much bigger than any country. Therefore when we talk about international community we hear a lot that international community is concerned. Then we need to identify who international community is. International community are members of United Nations – 200 countries. As I said in my remarks two thirds of these countries supported Azerbaijan as a non-permanent member of UN Security Council. As I said yesterday freedom of press is wholly provided in Azerbaijan. It is enough to look at the substance of this issue.”

He emphasized that it happens in many countries that journalists commit crimes and then they are prosecuted.

“We need to be objective here and look at the issues from the point of view of objectivity. If I may ask you a question?” President Aliyev said, adding. “Azerbaijan is often criticized for this kind of things, but do you have answer why Julian Assange is still in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London? He is facing extradition and then probably death penalty for some relations with some lady many years ago. And he is there for more than two years, and he is afraid of going out. Do you have any explanation? Is it democratic to treat a journalist like that? Or what kind of treatment is that?”

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