Azerbaijan, Morocco strengthen media ties with cooperation agreement PHOTO

Chairman of the Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ismet Sattarov, welcomed a Moroccan delegation led by Latifa Akharbach, Chairwoman of the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA) of the Kingdom of Morocco.

During the meeting, the two officials signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster cooperation between their respective organizations, Caliber.Az reports citing local media sources.

Speaking at the event, Sattarov expressed his admiration for Morocco, describing his visit to the country as both fascinating and productive. He praised the natural beauty, culture, and warm hospitality of the Moroccan people, noting that Azerbaijan similarly welcomes representatives from the friendly nation with open arms. He highlighted the strong ties between the two countries, grounded in mutual trust and friendship, as a foundation for expanding collaboration.

Sattarov pointed out that Azerbaijan hosts two international television channels, providing significant opportunities for media partnerships. He emphasized the value of experience-sharing in media regulation, particularly as digital technologies and artificial intelligence transform the communication landscape. This cooperation, he stated, aligns with the shared interests of Azerbaijan and Morocco.

He further acknowledged Morocco’s pivotal role among Arabic-speaking nations, with which Azerbaijan enjoys special relations, and suggested that this collaboration could open doors for broader partnerships with other Arab countries. Additionally, he proposed that Azerbaijan could serve as a bridge for Morocco to foster relations with the post-Soviet space, Turkic nations, and the Caspian-Black Sea region. Sattarov concluded by stressing the importance of joint efforts in media regulation to inform societies better and voiced optimism about future endeavours.

Latifa Akharbach, Chairwoman of HACA, expressed her gratitude for the warm welcome and shared her positive impressions of her second visit to Azerbaijan. She emphasized the deep friendship and mutual trust underpinning the partnership between the two organizations.

Akharbach underscored the importance of this visit, aimed at achieving concrete results and exchanging expertise, particularly given the rapid digital transformation of the media landscape. She highlighted shared challenges in areas such as artificial intelligence and media literacy, suggesting that the two bodies could collaborate on developing a common regulatory framework. Confident in the benefits of this partnership, she expressed appreciation for the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions.

The meeting also featured a detailed presentation by Taleh Guliyev, Head of the Audiovisual Council's Communication Sector, on Azerbaijan’s audiovisual media landscape. The session concluded with a productive discussion of issues of mutual interest, further solidifying the foundations for future collaboration.

By Tamilla Hasanova