Azercell Telecom JV and Reuters Foundation’s joint Writing Busines News training ends successfully

Bakı, June 25, 2007

16 participants of the training holding in Azerbaijan for the first time awarded with the certificates

Perceiving the independent and strong media role in development of civil soceity as an important deed, Azercell Telecom JV has started to launch different projects supporting this mission of journalists in Azerbaijan within new media-oriented policy – Inkişafı Paylaşmaq Platforması (Developing Sharing Platform).

Writing Business News Training organized first time by Azercell Telecom JV jointly with Reuters Foundation to promote quality journalism in Azerbaijan is one of those projects. 16 Media representatives were selected as participants of the training among about some 100 journalists-claimants. World-famous trainers from Reuters Foundation, Oliver Wates and Anatoly Verbin shared their knowledge with local journalists during the workshop held in Hotel Europe through June 18-22.

Addressing the training closing party held on June 22 with participation of influential media captains, press officers of the governmental structures, diplomatic corps and business enterprises Mr. A.Halim Ates, General Manager of Azercell Telecom JV extended his gratitudes to the trainers and participants of the training. Emphasizing the close relations of his company with local media he said: “Our long years cooperation and connections with journalists is obvious. Being chosen by journalists as the most transparent company of Azerbaijan, we became once again sure that the works done by Azercell are appreciated in this country. I hope that the knowledge and skills you obtained during this training will be useful for your professional career.”

Trainer Oliver Wates, Reuters former chief correspondent in the USSR, Bulgaria, Portugal, Pakistan and Brazil thanked Azercell for creating this chance for journalists. He said that Reuters was loyal to high principles of journalism in more than 100 years. “The basic principle is to report in accurate and unbiased way. If we report false, we would fail. I shared the knowledge and skills I obtained during my years within Reuters with my Azerbaijani colleagues as possibly as I could. I hope this knowledge will be useful for you doing your job.”

The participant of the training, Zumrud Damirova of 525ci Gazet newspaper assessed the training as the “best investment in journalism in Azerbaijan”. Gulsan Huseynova of Respublika newspaper expressed her hope in conduction of similar trainings in the future.

The training participants were presented the certificates and Azercell’s special gifts. The training participants were Elsad Mammadli (Yeni Musavat newspaper), Bahruz Maharramov (Azad Azerbaijan Broadcasting Company), Zumrud Damirova (525ci Gazet newspaper), Elnur Shibliyev (Lider TV Medial Holding), Nijat Mustafayev (Fineko news agency), Ilham Mammadov (Azadinform news agency), Timur Huseynov (Day.az Internet news portal), Nigar Mammadova (APA news agency), Mahir Zeynalov (Xalq cabhasi newspaper), Gular Karimli (Uc Noqta newspaper), Gulsan Huseynova (Respublika newspaper), Orkhan Muradov (AzerTAc State Telegraph Agency), Ulviyya Mammadova (Ganja Media Center), Esmira Khalilova (ANS Media Company), Ruslan Nuriyev (freelancer), and Seymur Yunusov (Iqtisadiyyat newspaper).