President Aliyev awarded by Press Council

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has received a special award of the Press Council for his resolute position on the protection of the national interests of Azerbaijan.

The award was presented to the head of state at a meeting with members of the Board of Directors of the Press Council on July 21 on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of the national press.

President Aliyev congratulated journalists and the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the 140^th anniversary of the national press.

"We can be proud that our national press has had a great history and the Azerbaijani press has acted freely and independently only in the years of independence," President Aliyev said.

President Aliyev also praised the role of the press in the formation of an independent society. The head of state added that hundreds of newspapers and magazines as well as TV channels operate in Azerbaijan, which helps the country pursue independent domestic and foreign policies based on the interests of the nation.

"Our society is united around the strategic interests and there is no disagreement over the issues that concern us," President Aliyev said, adding that the press should defend Azerbaijan's national interests internationally.

Aflatun Amashov, the chairman of the Press Council, highlighted the development of the national press, and remembered the measures conducted by national leader Heydar Aliyev to develop the media.

Saying that media representatives highly appreciate President Aliyev's role in developing the country, strengthening patriotism ideas in society, Amashov thanked the head of state for conferring honorary titles upon a group of media representatives on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of the national press

Members of the Board of Directors of the Press Council Akif Ashırlı and Umud Rahimoghlu also thanked President Aliyev for his attention to the development of the media.

President Aliyev then presented awards to members of the Press Council who received honorary tittles.