A roundtable discussion organized by the OSCE Office in Baku on the role of media in the run-up to forthcoming parliamentary elections started today.
The event, the third in a series of roundtable discussions held as a follow-up to recommendations from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, aims to help ensure that overall coverage of the election is fair, inclusive, accurate, equitable and impartial.
"Media must strive to ensure that all political parties, coalitions, citizens` initiatives and independent candidates receive fair and equitable news coverage as well as fair exposure through interviews, articles, debates and coverage of campaign activities during the entire electoral process," said Ambassador Bilge Cankorel, the Head of the OSCE Office in Baku, in his opening speech.
Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Mazahir Panahov said the commission enjoyed close relations with media.
Panahov said CEC attaches “great” importance to “active” participation of media in elections. He said “close” cooperation between CEC and media was of significance.
Panahov stated CEC tries to ensure the involvement of journalists in all events organized by the Commission.
The CEC chief noted media representatives would be able to observe the election process in any polling stations without accreditation.
He also praised Azerbaijan`s Election Code, saying it provides all opportunities for candidates to conduct their election campaign effectively.
Head of the socio-political department at the Presidential Administration Ali Hasanov praised the OSCE Baku Office`s role in building election atmosphere in the country.
Hasanov hailed CEC`s organizational work for forthcoming parliamentary elections.
He said Azerbaijan`s Election Code covers all legal bases of elections.
Hasanov stressed the contribution of OSCE to preparing the society to elections.
The Head of the socio-political department said the Azerbaijani government will spare no efforts to ensure “active” participation of media in the elections.
The Public TV will create equal conditions for all candidates to conduct their campaign freely, he said.
“We are interested in holding transparent, fair and democratic elections in Azerbaijan,” Hasanov said.
Other speakers included leaders of political parties and heads of media organizations.

Azertaj