Azerbaijan, Armenia Reach Broadcasting Accord

[Vigil]

Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku, in Azeri

9 Mar 04

 

Azerbaijan, Armenia reach broadcasting accord

 

 

[Presenter] The Azerbaijani Communications and Information Technology

Ministry has taken an important step to prevent the broadcast of

Armenian TV stations in Azerbaijan. The Armenian TV stations, which

conduct anti-Azerbaijani propaganda in western districts of

Azerbaijan, have agreed to stop their broadcasts.

 

[Correspondent] Starting from today [9 March], Armenian TV will stop

its illegal broadcasts in Qazax. Agstafa and Tovuz districts. The

Azerbaijani and Armenian ministries of communications signed a

protocol on this during talks in Moscow which were mediated by

Russia. Under the protocol Armenia will stop broadcasting on

Azerbaijan's channels No 22, 23 and 27.

 

However, this will not stop completely Armenian TV stations' invasion

of Azerbaijan. Since the talks concerned only broadcasts from

Armenia, the use of the radio transmitting station in Susa was not

discussed, Qulam Abdullayev, senior expert of the communications

ministry, has said.

 

[Qulam Abdullayev] The station in Susa is internationally listed as

Azerbaijan's. Hence, we only demanded that measures related to

Armenia-based stations be taken. We did not discuss Nagornyy Artsax

with them at all.

 

[Correspondent] Whether the protocol is abided by, will be verified

through monitoring. Should Armenia breach the terms of the agreement,

the issue will first be raised in a meeting of the regional

communications body, and later, with the International

Telecommunications Union [iTU].

 

Incidentally, another complaint may be lodged in the ITU regarding

Iranian TV stations. In order to avert this, Iran's TV channels have

to stop illegal broadcast in Azerbaijan.

 

[Abdullayev] Iran is not a member of the regional communications

body, but it is a member of the ITU. Iran has submitted its list to

the ITU and this issue will be raised with the ITU.

 

[Correspondent] Abdullayev said that Azerbaijan will conduct talks

with Iran. The Azerbaijani ministry intends to purchase new and

powerful equipment to completely resolve the issue. The ministry will

soon submit to the government a state programme it has drafted to

raise funds for this.

Edited May 31, 2004 by Vigil