OSCE Office presents press vests to Azerbaijani journalists

BAKU, 3 September 2008 - Two hundred vests that will clearly identify journalists during public events and demonstrations were presented to members of the Azerbaijani press corps by the OSCE Office in Baku today.

The vests were sponsored by the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media. They will be further distributed by the Press Council of Azerbaijan.

"It is very important to provide a safe working environment for journalists during public events, especially in the run-up to elections, and I am sure that these press vests will contribute to the safety of journalists," said Ambassador Jose Luis Herrero, the head of the OSCE Office.

Miklos Haraszti, the OSCE media freedom representative, added: "Police have to help members of the press to cover any type of demonstration, even unsanctioned ones. On the other hand, journalists have to help the police by visibly identifying themselves, and these vests will help do this."

During the 2005 parliamentary elections, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the Office of the Representative on Freedom of the Media noted several cases of assaults on or detention of journalists.

Haraszti's office prepared a report on how to handle the media during demonstrations in order to help Azerbaijan implement the principles of media freedom. The report is available here: Special Report on Handling of the Media during Political Demonstrations: Observations and Recommendations