Bilateral cooperation
In addition to membership in organizations at the international and regional levels, bilateral cooperation enables audiovisual regulators to exchange ideas and best practices and to engage in ongoing dialogue.
The Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan cooperates with audiovisual regulators of many European countries. First of all, this is the Supreme Council of Turkiye for Radio and Television ("RTÜK"), cooperation with which is currently developing at the highest levels. In addition, the Audiovisual Council maintains close contacts on a number of issues with the National Communications Commission of Georgia ("GNCC"), the National Council of Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine ("NCTRB"), the Audiovisual Council of Moldova ("CA") and the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media of the Republic of Serbia ("REM"). Bilateral cooperation with some regulators has reached a higher level and resulted in the signing of protocols of understanding.
On April 7, 2007 a Protocol on Cooperation between the National Television and Radio Council, the predecessor of the Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Supreme Council of Turkiye for Radio and Television ("RTÜK") was signed with a view to establish cooperation and develop and strengthen ties.
Guided by the objectives and principles of the European Convention on Transfrontier Television, and the recommendations stipulated in the Convention regarding the major significance of the audiovisual for the free circulation of information and ideas, a Cooperation Agreement was signed on October 19, 2017 between the National Television and Radio Council and the Audiovisual Coordinating Council of the Republic of Moldova (now "CA" - Audiovisual Council) with a view to develop and strengthen the cooperation.
On February 1, 2021 Azerbaijan and Turkiye signed a Memorandum of Understanding on strategic cooperation in the field of media. Given the important role that media plays in developing of mutual understanding and friendly relations between the peoples of the two countries, the Turkiye-Azerbaijan Joint Media Platform was established to strengthen existing friendly relations and contribute to the development of media relations between the two countries. The establishment of the Joint Media Platform, in turn, has further expanded cooperation between the Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Radio and Television Supreme Council of Turkiye.
The Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan and "RTÜK" are currently carrying out coordinated activities on all international and regional issues in order to strengthen cooperation. As an example, we can cite the activities of the Azerbaijani side aimed at holding a second round of consultations in the cities of Baku and Shusha in 2022 in order to establish the Forum of Audiovisual Regulators of Turkic States, the idea of which was put forward in 2017 by "RTÜK" and continued by the Azerbaijani side. Through joint activities and coordination of "RTÜK" and the Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan, it is planned to hold a meeting during 2022 with the aim to establish this Forum and sign the Protocol of Intentions for this purpose. As a continuation of this, it will be possible to hold the founding conference of this Forum next year.
