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Crisis in the Caucasus - 2009
Russian / Georgian Crisis and its Impact on Azerbaijan

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Azerbaijan Shuts Down BBC, VOA, Radio Azadlig

For more background see: November and December

1. The last moments.....
Dear friends,


On December 31, 2008, Radio Azadliq completed it's program on FM frequency at 12.00 am with the Overture of Uzeyir Hajibeyov's Koroglu opera.
FM broadcast was stopped a few seconds later.
This was a sad moment.

However, as in that song it's just the beginning, not the end.

Now you can listen to radio Azadliq in SW 9.48 for one hour (from 20.00 to 21.00 Baku time) via satellite and through Internet. Radio Azadliq continues broadcasting 10 hours of original programming a day. All programs will be aired according to previous schedule

Xeber-eter morning show - 8.00-10.00 am
Can Baki 12.00-13.00 pm
Ishden Sonra 17-19.00 pm
Kontekst - 20.00

You will find more interesting reports, photo and video in our web-page azadliqradiosu.az
As a special project we are planning to start satire page very soon.

STAY TUNED,
Khadija Ismayilova
http://www.azadliqradiosu.az

http://www.azadliq.org

2. RFE/RL (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
President Jeffrey Gedmin called today's decision by the government of Azerbaijan to take foreign broadcasters off the air "a sad day for the Azeri people, who will now find themselves without access to free and independent media." The OSCE calls the move a "serious step backwards" for Azerbaijan and the US State Department says the decision "retards democratic reform in Azerbaijan."

In Baku today, the Azeri National TV-Radio Council formally ruled to ban all international broadcasters, including RFE/RL, VOA, and BBC, from the airwaves effective January 1. The move essentially guarantees a monopoly for state-controlled media and prevents any independent news broadcasts from reaching the Azeri people.

Gedmin rejected Azerbaijan's suggestion that RFE/RL can broadcast effectively on alternatives to FM frequencies such as Internet radio or shortwave. "Losing our FM frequency means losing 90% of our audience," he said. "Nevertheless, we will find ways to reach our listeners. Our mission of bringing uncensored news and information to the Azeri people is now more important than ever."

Since the announcement two months ago that authorities were considering this move, Azeri advocates of press freedom have joined the US, EU, OSCE, and international media watchdog groups in condemnation of the regime's efforts at stopping the free exchange of information in Azerbaijan.

About RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service
For more than 50 years, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service, Radio Azadliq has operated within a challenging media environment as a dependable source of professional, independent, and up-to-the minute information and news. Broadcasting for 10 hours each day on 101.7 FM, Radio Azadliq puts the values of democracy and independence firmly at the center of its mission, and is the country's most popular international broadcaster (Dec 30, 2008).
http://www.rferl.org/content/Azerbaijan_Shuts_Down_RFERL_VOA_BBC/1365205.html

Interview with Jeffrey Gedmin in "World Politics Review"
By Juliana Geran Pilon (Dec 12, 2008 )
http://www.rferl.org/content/PressRelease/1359320.html

RFE/RL Listeners In Azerbaijan Angry Over Closure Of Azadliq
By Khadija Ismayilova (Jan 2, 2009)
http://www.rferl.org/Content/RFERL_Listeners_In_Azerbaijan_Protest_Broadcasters_Closure/1365897.html

3. BBC (British Broadcasting Company)
Azeri ban on foreign broadcasts (Dec 30, 2008)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7805109.stm

4. VOA (Voice of America)
US Regrets Azerbaijan Plan to Ban Foreign Radio Stations
By VOA News (Dec 30, 2008)
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-12-30-voa40.cfm

Editorial (Jan 02, 2009)
http://www.voanews.com/uspolicy/2009-01-04-voa7.cfm

5. US State Department
Azerbaijan Will not Renew the Broadcasting Licenses of Radio Liberty, Voice of America and the BBC
By Gordon K. Duguid, Acting Deputy Spokesman (Dec 30, 2008)
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2008/dec/113522.htm

6. EU (European Union)
EU Warns Azerbaijan Over Its BBC, Voice Of America Ban (Dec 31, 2008)
http://www.sefermpost.com/sefermpost/2008/12/eu-warns-azerbaijan-over-its
-bbc-voice-of-america-ban.html

7. EU HR Javier SOLANA Regrets the Decision by the Azerbaijani National TV and Radio Council To Stop Broadcasting Foreign Radio Stations (Dec 31, 2009)
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/en/declarations/105084.pdf

8. OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe)
Azerbaijan's ban on foreign FM radio broadcasting is serious step backwards, says OSCE media freedom representative (Dec 30, 2008)
http://www.osce.org/item/35848.html

9. UPI (United Press International)
Azerbaijan limits foreign radio broadcasts (Jan 1, 2009)
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/01/01/Azerbaijan_limits_foreign_
radio_broadcasts/UPI-65851230842209/

10. Reuters
Azerbaijan curbs foreign radio broadcasts
By Lada Yevgrashina (Dec 30, 2008)
http://uk.reuters.com/article/mediaNews/idUKLU31737120081230?
pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true

11. AFP (Agence France-Press)
EU warns Azerbaijan over its BBC, Voice of America ban (Dec 31, 2008)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h81AFsbwdZ-VF8FdHskagnY567lA

12. RIA Novosti (Russian News and Information Agency)
Azerbaijan bans foreign radio broadcasts on local frequencies (Jan 1, 2009)
http://en.rian.ru/world/20090101/119305456.html

13. NewsBlaze
Berman Urges Azerbaijan to Rescind Decision on U.S., British Broadcasting (Dec 30, 2008)
http://newsblaze.com/story/2008123012330200002.pnw/topstory.html

14. NY Times (New York Times)
Azerbaijan Bars Foreigners From Use of Its FM Band
By Sabrina Tavernise (Jan 6, 2009)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/07/world/europe/07azerbaijan.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

15. Wall Street Journal
Azerbaijan Outlaws International Radio (Dec 30, 2008)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123067777878643861.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

16. International Herald Tribune
US criticizes Azerbaijan for media ban (Dec 30, 2008)
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/30/america/NA-US-Azerbaijan.php

Azerbaijan restricts foreign broadcasting companies
By Sabrina Tavernise (Jan 6, 2009)
http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/01/06/mideast/azer.php

17. Media Net
Azerbaijan bans foreign radio broadcasts on local frequencies
by Andy Sennitt (Dec 30, 2008)
http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork

18. BLOG: Radio 2020
Azerbaijan Starts Year by Ending Foreign Broadcasts
By George Williams (Jan 2, 2009)
http://radio2020.wordpress.com/2009/01/02/azerbaijan-starts-year-by-ending-foreign-broadcasts/

19. Zambia News
Foreign radio broadcasts banned in ex-Soviet state (Jan 2, 2009)
http://www.zambianews.net/story/448780

20. China National News
Foreign radio broadcasts banned in ex-Soviet state (Jan 2, 2009)
http://story.chinanationalnews.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/b8de8e630faf3631/id/448780/cs/1/

21. Argentina Star
Foreign radio broadcasts banned in ex-Soviet state (Jan 2, 2009)
http://story.argentinastar.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/c08dd24cec417021/id/448780/cs/1/

22. Singapore Star
Foreign radio broadcasts banned in ex-Soviet state (Jan 2, 2009)
http://story.singaporestar.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/c08dd24cec417021/id/448780/cs/1/

23. BLOG: U.S. Politics Online
China, Azerbaijan banning BBC and some other foreign medias (Jan 3, 2009)
http://www.uspoliticsonline.com/breaking-news-politics/51127-china-azerbaijan-
banning-bbc-some-other-foreign-medias.html

24. BLOG: Baybak, Voice of a Nation
NTRBC decides to stop broadcasting of "Voice of America", BBC and Radio Liberty in Azerbaijan's national frequencies (Dec 30, 2008)
http://www.en.baybak.com/ntrbc-decides-to-stop-broadcasting-of-"voice-of-america"-
bbc-and-radio-liberty-in-azerbaijan's-national-frequencies.azr

25. BLOG: EXPAT.ru
Azerbaijan bans foreign radio broadcasts on local frequencies (Jan 3, 2009)
http://www.expat.ru/forum/russia-news/123960-azerbaijan-bans-foreign-radio-
broadcasts-local-frequencies.html

26. BLOG: Global Voices on Line
Azerbaijan: Foreign Broadcasts Banned Ahead of Constitutional Referendum
By Ali S. Novruzov (Jan 4, 2009)
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/01/04/azerbaijan-bans-foreign-broadcasts-
while-preparing-for-a-constitutional-referendum/

27. BLOG: Kim Andrew Elliott Discussing International Broadcasting and Public Diplomacy
Azerbaijan: demand for shortwave radios "has skyrocketed" since ban of foreign radio on FM
http://kimelli.nfshost.com/index.php?id=5563

28. BLOG: JudiNews
U.S. and EU have expressed concern about the prohibition of foreign radio stations in Azerbaijan (Jan 4, 2009)
http://judie-jud.blogspot.com/2009/01/us-and-eu-have-expressed-concern-about.html

29. Reporters Without Borders
Government ban on foreign radio stations called "strategic error" (Jan 7, 2009)
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=29833

30. BLOG: GGoogi (English and Korean)
Azerbaijan Bars Foreigners From Use of Its FM Band
By Sabrina Tavernise (Jan 6, 2009)
http://ggoogi.goanygate.com/en/node/4129

31. Daily Mail (UK)
Oil-rich dictator cultivated by Prince Andrew blocks BBC broadcasts to Azerbaijan
By William Stewart (Jan 5, 2009)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1105786/Oil-rich-dictator-cultivated-
Prince-Andrew-blocks-BBC-broadcasts-Azerbaijan.html


 




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