YEN Azerbaijan

Baku, October 5, AssA-Irada

Azerbaijan's senior body regulating local media, the National TV and Radio
Broadcasting Council, has called on ANS TV and Radio Company, Radio Anten
and the state radio station to stop unauthorized transmission of foreign
radio programs. It also warned the three radio stations of serious sanctions
if they continue airing such programs.

Local radio stations are not allowed to retransmit the programs of foreign
radio stations on their own, as a relevant license should be issued by the
NTRC, in accord with the country's legislation. Foreign radio stations
should air their programs through their own transmitters but not the via
local radio stations, the watchdog said.

ANS and state radio station retransmit programs of the Azerbaijani bureaus
of the BBC Radio and Radio Liberty. Radio Anten airs the programs of Voice
of America, along with ANS.*