Presidential decree urges state care for media

President Aliyev signed a decree Saturday assigning the government, President's office and relevant institutions to invigorate assistance to mass media and facilitate the financial difficulties arising from the upcoming transition to Latin script.

The President is inviting proposals on measures to develop national media. The decree provides Azeri media with a 3-year profit tax exemption. Besides, the government is to lower customs duties on imports of paper. It is proposed to set up a self-sufficient Institute of Press for journalists to raise upgrade qualifications to international standards.

President's office is to award media outlets and journalists for the best coverage of actual problems.

By another decree, the President has set up a national council on Press, TV, Radio and Internet, which will exercise public control over the observance of media legislation. The council is to regulate relations between government institutions and media and develop the freedom of speech, expression and information.