Dear Peter,
I don`t remember exactly, but know that we have got acquainted some 10 and more years ago. You and me frequently travel across the Globe and attend different high-level events relating to mass media and journalism.
We`re the people who acts for fair and ethical journalism. We defend, support and promote high profile in journalism. Because we believe, that only fair and ethic journalism can survive and gain respect of people all over the Globe.
Dear Peter,
You are longstanding experienced journalist. When I see your column online or on paper just read it. Because I trust you and need your expertise as an experienced veteran journalist.
But unfortunately not everything looks good in The Guardian and some other internationally known newspapers. It seems some writers in The Guardian are continuously targeting my country – Azerbaijan, accusing it for gross violation of human rights. Of course, journalists can and must cover all cases of public interest and The Guardian is one of the bests to do this. But when journalists from this very popular and respectful newspaper become the tools in the hands of those serving interests of some dark circles it can`t be neither regarded ethical and fair journalism nor a journalism at all.
We, the people of Azerbaijan, are eager to integrate to Europe. We move step by step, maybe slowly towards European values. We see our future in Europe.
We are the nation of the East with own customs and values. But this does not part us from the West.
We want to keep ours` and get new values alongside. We are the nation which has provided general suffrage right for women in 1919 and recognized gender equality in 1921. I am siting these facts to remind that we are not the people of medieval centuries. We are the modern, secular nation, tolerant towards other cultures, nationalities and religions. At the same time we are tolerant towards freedom of opinion and expression. We are the nation of pluralist democratic society.
But some of your colleagues used to blame Azerbaijan for everything, and at any time. If something happens in my country those writers like to write only negative sides. But they could try to be fair and show to readers positive sides of my country as well.
The Guardian is writing about Azerbaijan every day. This can be good. But as a quite dedicated reader I find your writers` stance towards Azerbaijan biased and one-sided. And unfortunately this is usual case.
Owen Gibson, who was denied accreditation for the first European Games held in Baku between June 12 and 29, 2015, is a good sports writer. But it seems that he mixes sport with politics. While he was denied accreditation for the Games, I just wanted to act with statement, investigated the case and found out that denial is not baseless.
Gibson was provided opportunity to come to Azerbaijan in December 2014 to cover preparations for the Games. He has been welcomed and was free to go through and collect information, interview people. He is a sport writer. I mean, he is professionalized on sport. But while going back home he just wrote about everything I`d say sometimes except sport preparations. I understand that any journalist would like to get more from the journey to the country which is quite a far land. I use to write my journey impressions as well.
But while you`re invited and provided free opportunity to go through and get in touch with different people to see around this does not mean that your reportage can be one-sided. Even if you are a sports writer and are invited for sports purposes, it seems to me not ethical to go beyond. I would not do that. But anyway, if a sports writer wants to use an opportunity and cover issues other than sport, he/she could be balanced. As I see Gibson just delves deeper and “finds” only the negative in my country. I would just like to ask why.
Indeed, was there nothing positive? Couldn't he see anything which could be presented to readers as the good side of Azerbaijan? Of course there are tons of positives in Azerbaijan, but sometimes some Western journalists don`t want to see them.
And the headlines on Azerbaijan in your newspaper are usually negative as well. I`ll give some examples.
Disastrous consequences for Baku's 'clean up' ahead of European Games (goo.gl/ybb2N6)
“Azeri government behind foreign media ban, say European Games officials (goo.gl/Y8P6ZH)
Journalism students highlight plight of jailed journalists with bracelets (goo.gl/5H7i86)
Baku reminds us our top athletes are overgrown infants (goo.gl/9c4rYS)
Turning black gold into sporting glitter: what Azerbaijan tells us about modern sport (goo.gl/DE3cTh)
And The Guardian regarding these as not enough uses negative material from other media outlets too.
Again, we could condemn banning of foreign media from covering the Games. But why The Guardian does not mention that around 800 foreign journalists have been accredited and are covering the Games? If Azerbaijan banned all foreign media (as it comes out from The Guardian piece), why is no one else except a very few journalists (including Gibson) banned?
By the way, Nick Cohen accuses Team GB sportsmen for not raising his voice of protest in Baku.
Just why? Why would British athletes who know nothing about a country where they've arrived just a few days away and know nothing about political developments, protest?
Dear Peter,
We are open and free society. And we are happy to be part of Europe. But when we see that some circles in Europe target us continuously we just get mixed up.
Does Europe want an open and democratic Azerbaijan? I think, yes. So why do some in Europe choose only the way of pressure on Azerbaijan?
This kind of pressure will prevent Azerbaijan`s efforts to join European family. Would Europe like to lose the country which is trying to join it in full? I think Europe would not like to lose Azerbaijan. And we, the people of Azerbaijan would not like to lose the European way too.
That’s why I`d like to call on all those journalists via esteemed veterans like you to stop biased reporting on Azerbaijan. If you are to cover human rights issues, we are ready to communicate and provide balanced information. Western journalists should not be a tool on the hands of certain campaigners who themselves are the tools on the hands of global businesses and financial giants. This is the truth behind campaigns attacking Azerbaijan.
And at the end of my open letter I would like to ask you to publish it on The Guardian. I'd be happy to discuss any of the issues further.
With friendly regards,
Mr Azer Hasret, Chairman
Central Asian & Southern Caucasian Freedom of Expression Network (CASCFEN)
Baku, Azerbaijan
