02/02/2001 (Agence Europe) - Secretary General of the Council of Europe Walter Schwimmer expressed his concern about the recent closure of two private regional broadcasters in Azerbaijan, Mingechevir TV and DMR TV. He noted that "these events will reduce the already meagre possibilities of the Azerbaijani people outside the capital to receive information from other sources than the State TV". Last week, Azerbaijan become the 43rd member State of the Council of Europe. On this occasion, it mainly pledged to guarantee freedom of expression and to rule out the use of administrative measures to restrict the freedom of the media.