An Azerbaijani MP has criticized coverage of the Karabakh conflict by Radio Liberty and called on international media to report on the conflict.
Azerbaijani media, including 1news.az, a while ago commented that Radio Azadlig, the Azerbaijani service of Radio Liberty, is too politically committed on Karabakh, while Radio Liberty's Armenian service actively protects the interests of the Armenian state on the issue.
'Armenia has probably set as its goals keeping on the agenda such issues as propaganda of the Armenian position on resolution of the Karabakh conflict alongside local issues,' Zahid Oruj told 1news.az today.
He said that Azerbaijani journalism was too involved in Azerbaijani politics.
'This is also due to the people who work there. I do not want to criticize our national journalism due to this issue but one of the problems of our lagging behind Armenians is that our journalism is extremely politicized and sympathies and antipathies are split. Most energy goes into the internal struggle,' the deputy said.
He said that protection of the Azerbaijani position by media such as Radio Liberty, the BBC and Voice of America would open more opportunities for Azerbaijan.
'Certainly, every information source is independent and we cannot tell them what to do. But it is necessary to inform the world community about the continued occupation of Azerbaijani land by Armenians. Concentration only on the domestic struggle does not meet state interests. These structures could neutralize the negative instances against them by raising the issue of the Karabakh conflict. But it is possible to say that political struggle occupies most of their time,' he said.
The BBC, Radio Liberty and Voice of America have been off air in Azerbaijan since 1 January 2009, when new regulations banning foreign broadcasters came into force.
1 news.az