21:53, 6 November 2007

US Deputy Secretary of State calls on Azerbaijani authorities to stop pressure on media

At the press conference in the capital of Azerbaijan on November 5, Daniel Fried, US Deputy State Secretary, speaking on the situation in the sphere of journalism, has repeated the thesis on inadmissibility of arresting journalists for their published articles.

"During the meeting with the President, we touched on the issue of the convicted journalists, including the case of Einullah Fatullaev, editor of the 'Real Azerbaijan'," Mr Fried said.

"For us, strong Azerbaijan means strong power, strong opposition, strong mass media and strong democratic institutes," he added.

"The state should not exert pressure on the media, but make the press responsible. Therefore, the conditions for development of free press should be set up," the US Department of State official has emphasized.

Author: Zaur Rasulzade, CK correspondent