Congratulation on the 22nd of July - the Day of National Press - Baku, July 21, 1997


Distinguished press workers!

I heartily congratulate you on the occasion of the Day of National Press.

The Azerbaijani press has covered a very rich and honorable road of development, always reflected all the areas of life and the desire of our people in its pages and given a strong impetus to the formation and development of the national consciousness, morality and culture.

At present democratic principles are consistently executed in all the areas of social and political life of the independent Azerbaijan as well as in the sphere of press and media. Freedom of speech and thought, principles of political pluralism enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, form the basis of the state policy on press and media.

Journalism is a job requiring a special, unusual and hard work. At present hundreds of mass media agencies, TV and radio companies, newspapers and magazines function independently in the republic, and journalism develops rapidly.

On this momentous day, I want to express my confidence that the Azerbaijani journalists will demonstrate high professionalism, objectivity, integrity, real civil and public position while conveying to the public, the events in the country and around the world, in spreading information about these events, in analyzing them.

Heydar Aliyev,
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan