Public TV to be on air in June

Organized by the Council of Europe and Azerbaijani President's Apparat the event brought together representatives from the public bodies, parliament, CE, press, political parties.

Ali Hassanov, the head of the Public Political Department of the President's Apparat, said that during the establishment of the PTV, one of the CE obligations set for Azerbaijan, has became a difficult process. The experience of a number of countries, including the samples of BBC, were studied while establishing the PTV. Hassanov noted that till 2010 the PTV will be financed at he expense of public budget assignments. He noted the importance of financing the building of the PTV and its equipment. "The PTV will work on the base of AzTV-2, the second radio channel was also given to its disposal. We will be able to see public television on air in June. The opposition is sure the PTV will cover their actions, while we think differently," Hassanov underlined.

MP Rizvan Jabiyev noted that after some restrictions were imposed on authorities of the Broadcasting Council and PTV Director. A document was designed with intention to avoid the interference of the two bodies each other's activities.

Ilham Safarov, the General Director of Internews, told about training and professional problems of personnel of the PTV. He said that irrespective of profession, every employee of the television will attend training to improve professional skills.

Lawyer Aslan Ismayilov noted the importance of covering all public problems of the country.

Nuraddin Mammadli, the vice chairman of the PFAP, said that insufficient assignment of funds does not provide for training of professional personnel and PTV building. Other speakers to the ceremony, CE experts Le Hibard Caroline, Caroline Marrison (UK) and Sandra Beysik - Khirvatin (Slovenia) put forward their proposals on the transition from state to public broadcasting and use of this experience.