This is a big honor for Azerbaijan to host the 5th News Agencies World Congress and the 16th General Assembly of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA), Azerbaijan’s President said addressing the opening ceremony of the events in Baku Nov. 16.

The head of state noted that the participants of the event also got the opportunity to familiarize themselves with Azerbaijan.

“We regard this event as an assessment given by the media to our country’s achievements,” said President Aliyev.

“I think that the achievements during the 25 years of independence show that we managed to provide freedom of media, as well as all other fundamental freedoms,” said the president.

“Various media outlets sometimes cover the same event in different ways. It comes from political interests,” Ilham Aliyev said, adding. “Azerbaijan stands for free media, and we believe the Baku Congress will be a step forward from this point of view.”

The president reminded that the first democratic republic in Azerbaijan was established 98 years ago.

“Despite the fact that the first democratic republic existed for only two years, the foundations of democratic traditions were laid. The democratic republic enfranchised women although at that time there was no such a law in many European countries,” he said.

The president noted that Azerbaijan has gained high reputation in the international arena.

“A few years ago, Azerbaijan was elected a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council with the support of 155 states. Most members of the international community supported Azerbaijan,” said Ilham Aliyev.

“Azerbaijan is a country with independent foreign policy that is based on national interests and is not aimed against anyone, and Azerbaijan’s future is in its own hands,” added the president.

President Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijan is one of the few countries of the world which is at the same time member of the Islamic Cooperation Organization and Council of Europe.

“In 2008, Azerbaijan hosted a meeting of culture ministers of European and Islamic countries. This is a historic achievement. Then it was called “‘Baku process”. The multicultural traditions of our people are a vivid example in terms of building a healthy relationship among different religions and nations”, said the president.

Apa.az