Submitted by AZERTAC on

Baku, October, 2, AZERTAC

A seminar entitled "Elections to Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis: the role and responsibilities of the media in pre-election process" has kicked off in Baku.

Addressing the meeting, jointly organized by the Presidential Administration, Central Election Commission (CEC) and Press Council, CEC chairman Mazahir Panahov noted that the event is held for the first time in this format. He said that in order to hold transparent, democratic and free elections this process should be open to the press. “CEC is interested in international and local media representatives' participation in the electoral process. The country has had no problems on this issue in the elections so far,” he said.

The Azerbaijani President's Aide on Public and Political Affairs Ali Hasanov expressed his confidence that the event would have a positive impact on holding transparent, democratic elections to the Milli Majlis. He noted that the Central Election Commission is capable enough to hold the elections at the highest level

“The media is of great importance in terms of shaping the image of a country,” said Ali Hasanov praising the indispensable role of the media in assessing the electoral process.

Highlighting what has been done to develop the media, Ali Hasanov said the Azerbaijani government has always supported the media`s participation in covering electoral process objectively and within the framework of law.

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