OSCE welcomes Azerbaijani authority's efforts in adopting law on Defamation

OSCE welcomes the efforts made by the Azerbaijani authorities to adopt a law on defamation, OSCE Chairman Audronius Ažubalis said at a joint press conference in Baku with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister.

"This process has begun. We think that it will be successfully completed. Freedom of speech is one of the priorities of Lithuania's presidency in the OSCE," he said.

A draft law on defamation was prepared in 2005 with the support of the OSCE Baku Office. The working group that prepared the draft included MPs Ganira Pashayeva and Azay Guliyev, media representatives and lawyers.

According to international organizations, articles in the Azerbaijani Criminal Code that envisage criminal responsibility for libel and insult should be excluded from the legislation.

Six media organizations asked parliament to adopt a law on defamation in May 2009 - the Association of Azerbaijani Journalists, the Najaf Najafov Foundation, the Center for Journalism and Development, the Yeni Nesil Association of Journalists, and the Azerbaijani Media Center and Democratic Journalists League. Later about 400 media representatives joined the appeal.

The draft law has been studied by the OSCE.

He said that OSCE also intends to provide technical assistance to Azerbaijan in improving the Electoral Code and law on political parties.

"I have held several meetings in Azerbaijan with the authorities, civil society and political parties. I think that Azerbaijan will reach good results in the area of freedom of speech," he said.

He also welcomed the fight against corruption, which is currently held in Azerbaijan.


/Trend/