The speech of US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Anne Derse, made during her visit to the north-western region of Azerbaijan:
Ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you for inviting me. It is an honor to celebrate World Press Freedom Day in the Center that is named after the National Hero of Azerbaijan, courageous journalist Chingiz Mustafayev, who fell while performing his duties as a journalist in 1991.
"Our liberty depends on freedom of the press and that cannot be limited without being lost." So spoke Thomas Jefferson over 200 years ago. Without a free press, citizens have no access to independent information about their government and its policies and performance. Without a free press, citizens do not have the information they need to hold government accountable, and consequently, the risk of corruption, malfeasance and mismanagement is great, especially in an oil rich state. Without a free press, there can be no public exchange of ideas about national challenges and priorities Without a free press, there is no real freedom.
That is why it is important that governments that respect freedom vigorously uphold the right of journalists to work freely, without fear of violence and persecution, and why it is important that media adhere to the highest ethical and professional standards in carrying out their important responsibility to inform the public. Criticism of the government and government leaders is not treason, it is a hallmark of true democracy. The US believes that libel and defamation should not be criminal offences, journalists should not be imprisoned for expressing their views, incidents of violence or harassment against journalists to intimidate them into silence should be vigorously investigated and prosecuted and governments in developing democracies should work with civil society to develop a free, independent and objective media to defend the people’s rights.
Speaking as the representative of a government which supports Azerbaijan’s independence and sovereignty, which has great respect for the people of Azerbaijan and for Azerbaijan’s history, culture and accomplishments, and for Azerbaijan’s great potential as a leader in the region, I must say that the recent physical attacks and the ongoing smear campaign against Azadliq journalist Agil Halil and continuing pressure and threats against pro-opposition and independent journalists show that development of the independent media as a strong institution to support Azerbaijan’s democratic development is under attack. Current attitudes towards the media are more reminiscent of Azerbaijan’s Soviet past than its democratic future. Many Azerbaijanis and international observers who support Azerbaijan’s goals of maintaining independence and promoting freedom, in the face of strong regional pressures, share this view.
Throughout his short but meaningful life, Chingiz Mustafayev fought for his people’s right to know. He traveled to the zones, swept by war to report on tragic consequences of war and its innocent victims. Scenes from Khojali, taped by Chingiz Mustafayev shook the world and still continue to touch all peace-loving peoples. These works demonstrate Chingiz’s courage and commitment to his motherland, his profession, and the principle of media freedom. The best way to honor his memory - and those of other pioneering Azerbaijani journalists - is for us to support all journalists seeking to exercise that fundamental democratic right in support of Azerbaijan’s democratic future, and freedom for all Azerbaijanis.
Independent journalism serves the public by addressing and stimulating a debate on issues of national concern. Just as Chingiz did, journalists today have a responsibility to report on key issues of national import, including Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan's democratic reforms, the use of its energy revenues, and corruption. I am doubly happy to see the young generation of Azerbaijani journalists guided by the courageous work of those, like Chingiz Mustafayev, who made today’s journalism in Azerbaijan possible.
Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in renewing our commitment to media freedom and wishing success to all the journalists in Azerbaijan and everywhere else in the world.
Thank you.
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