Free atmosphere created in Azerbaijan for media to cover European Games

Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 14 By Seba Aghayeva - Trend: The freedom of the speech and expression has been fully ensured in Azerbaijan, spokesman for the Azerbaijani foreign ministry Hikmet Hajiyev told Trend April 13. Hajiyev was commenting on the accreditation of the representatives of foreign media in connection with the first European Games. “Free atmosphere was created for local and foreign media representatives to conduct their professional activity during the first European Games on the basis of respect for the laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan,” he said. “The first European Games is one of the prestigious and mass events that Azerbaijan will host,” he said. “That is why the process of accreditation connected with the Games is exceptional in nature. The accreditation for the European Games is stipulated by the decree of the president of the Republic of Azerbaijan on some measures regarding the organization of the first European Games dated August 8, 2014.” Hajiyev said that Azerbaijan is applying the best experience used during such mass international events to ensure the accreditation of foreign media representatives for the first European Games. “It gives us great pleasure to note that experienced international and local professionals are working together at the Operation Committee of the first European Games,” he said. “The representatives of foreign media are being accredited by the Operation Committee of the first European Games. The state bodies are rendering necessary support to the Operation Committee of the Games.” “Around 700 international and more than 600 local media representatives have applied to get accreditation to cover the first European Games,” he said. “Moreover, the European Games will be covered by nearly 200 international broadcasting companies. A Media Village meeting all technical parameters was established for effective activity of the media representatives.” “The rules for the accredited media representatives entering Azerbaijan`s territory have been simplified,” he said. “The international media representatives can enter Azerbaijan`s territory with their accreditation card issued by the Operation Committee of the first European Games and an ID card.” “We are waiting with pleasure for the international media representatives to come to Azerbaijan to cover the first European Games,” he said. Baku 2015 is the first-ever European Games, an exciting and innovative multi-sport event for the continent which will take place on June 12-28, 2015. There will be a total of 20 sports at Baku 2015: 16 Olympic sports and four non-Olympic sports. More than 6,000 athletes from across Europe will be representing their nations over 17 days of competition. Baku was awarded the games by the European Olympic Committees (EOC) in December 2012. --- follow the author on Twitter: @Asebaa Edited by CN Follow us on Twitter @TRENDNewsAgency