14:36, 2 December 2008

CE calls Azerbaijani authorities not to stop western radio stations

The Council of Europe (CE) plans to negotiate with the government of Azerbaijan on continuation of broadcasting in local frequencies of radio stations Voice of America, Liberty and BBC.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that this was stated at today's press conference in Baku by Terry Davis, Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

"I'm absolute against stopping the radio stations. Their stand can differ from the position of the government. But it does not mean that their broadcasting should be stopped," Mr Davis said.

The CE Secretary General has confessed that he himself was "sometimes" dissatisfied with the BBC programmes. "However, it never meant that I wanted this radio station to be stopped," Mr Davis has added. "Therefore we'll negotiate with the government of Azerbaijan on the issue."

Terry Davis has arrived to Baku for taking part in the conference of Ministers of Culture of the CE countries on the topic: "Intercultural dialogue as the basis for peace and long sustainable development of Europe and neighbouring regions".

Author: Faik Medzhid, CK correspondent