Head of Azerbaijani NTRB: foreign broadcasting will not be resumed

The National Television and Radio Board (NTRB) of Azerbaijan has made its decision: the legislation is against foreign broadcasting in national frequencies. This was reported to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Nushiravan Magerramli, head of the Board, who made his comments on the statement of the US Embassy that the American party is waiting for proposals on restart of broadcasting of the radio stations Liberty and Voice of America.

"They (Americans) are interested in broadcasting, therefore, they should move proposals", Mr Magerramli said. According to his version, the NTRB is equally applying the law to everybody. "No exceptions: if we don't do them for broadcasting companies of the neighbouring countries - Turkey, Russia and Iran - why should we do it for others", he has added.

At the same time, he has not excluded a chance to restart broadcasting of western radio stations if the state will take respective obligations and sign intergovernmental agreements. In the opinion of Mr Magerramli, the broadcasting can take place on the parity basis: in exchange for broadcasting of American radio, Azerbaijani radio should broadcast over the USA.