Ali Hasanov: Some individuals used to attribute everything good in country to themselves, while bad things to state

Unfortunately, there are some individuals in the Azerbaijani journalism who do not distinguish the interests of the country from those of the authorities, Head of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration's Social and Political Department Ali Hasanov said at the sixth Congress of Azerbaijani journalists.

"As a result, by simply translating the articles from our newspapers, the Armenian press distributes them around the world," he said.

"Some individuals used to attribute everything good in the country to themselves, while bad things to the state.

"The state, rather than the authorities, is sometimes criticized," he said. "Some individuals carry out the activity against the country amid the struggle against the power. By taking advantage of Azadliq newspaper delegate's participation in the congress, I would like to cite one example. It is known that Azadliq newspaper is a body established by one of the opposition parties. But Azadliq newspaper did not start its activity as the body of the party.

This newspaper started its activity from the period of Azerbaijan's independence and was a paper whom the people expected a position based on state and statehood. But now all articles, written in any country against Azerbaijani state and statehood, are immediately published in this newspaper, with the aim to hit the current authorities. Even good things are distorted. This has been repeatedly proved by us."

"This is done to hit the authorities," he said.

"A journalist's primary task is to provide people with information," he said. "But at the same time a journalist is a citizen of his country, and a representative of the social strata. Must we put the profession above the national values?

"Those pretending for power say they will 'snub' dissenters," he added. "They will snub and pay a fine themselves. In particular, they emphasize that they will snub those who defend the power and they will be responsible for this. The penalty for such an act is 1,000 manat. It turns out that they will snub and pay a fine from the state budget. Are not certain newspapers ashamed of supporting such a person?"

"A worthy candidate must be promoted," he added.

"What can one expect from a person who is unable to manage his feelings, strive for power based on jealousy and deny his words, voiced three years ago and take a completely different position? The reasons are well known. The Azerbaijani opposition has been waiting for coming to power for 20 years, however, the position of one candidate is given to another within one day."

"The opposition must resign on the day of refusing from the struggle for power," he added.


/Trend/