Gabala hosted a regional conference on the subject "Azerbaijan national press - 140: the path of development and the challenges of the modern period".

With joint organizational support of the Administration of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the State Fund for the Support of Mass Media Development under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Press Council of Azerbaijan and Gabala Region Executive Power, a regional conference was held on the subject "Azerbaijan national press - 140: the path of development and the challenges of the modern period". Initially, the participants paid tribute to national leader Heydar Aliyev who had great merits in the development of modern Azerbaijan press, laid flowers at his monument. On a regional conference held in the conference hall of the "Qafqaz Sport" hotel of Gabala city, participation of competent personnel of the district executive power, and editors of about 25 newspapers operating in the capital and regions was ensured. Deputy Head of the Department of social and political issues of the Administration of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Arastun Mehdiyev, opening the conference, congratulated the participants with the 140th anniversary of the national press. Talking about the history of Azerbaijani press, the foundations of which were laid by the "Ekinchi" newspaper, which had an invaluable contribution to the awakening of national consciousness of our people and the formation of national unity, and the work being done on the development and democratization of the press in the period of independence, Arastun Mehdiyev stressed that "Ekinchi" newspaper, first released on July 22, 1875, a total of 56 issues of which saw the light, was a propagandist and mouthpiece of the progressive ideas, enlightenment, united and rallied intellectuals around the idea of Azerbaijanism. Arastun Mehdiyev spoke about the merits for our nation of Hasan bey Zardabi, founder of the "Ekinchi" newspaper. Talking about the state care shown to the media representatives of our country and the work undertaken in the field of media development in recent years, Mehdiyev assessed the conduct of the anniversaries of the national press every 5 years as a great attention of the country's leadership to journalists. He said that the state now has a transparent media support through the State Fund for the Support of Mass Media Development under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. He noted that after the establishment of the Press Council of Azerbaijan and the State Fund for the Support of Mass Media Development under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the press in the country began to evolve rapidly. Much has been done to strengthen the material-technical base of the press, improve the social situation of journalists and the protection of their rights. Focusing on the Order of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic "On conducting the 140th anniversary of the national press of Azerbaijan" on June 2, 2015 noted that according to this document currently in the country a series of events is carried out dedicated to the anniversary of the national press. Recalling the work done by the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to ensure the freedom of speech and the press in our country, Arastun Mehdiyev brought to the attention that this will continue. Afterwards the Head of the Gabala District Executive Power Sabuhi Abdullayev, thanked on behalf of the Gabala residents for choosing the historic and charming Gabala city, which is the birthplace of the great philosophers, as a venue for prestigious regional conference dedicated to the anniversary of the press. It was noted that the press plays an important role in every society, including the provision of information of society life of Azerbaijan, in the coverage of social and political processes, in the education of the population, as a whole in raising the cultural level of the country. It was brought to the attention that, as in all areas of social and political life of the people undergoing the process of building an independent, democratic and legal state, in the field of Press and Information the democratic principles of freedom of thought and expression, political pluralism are observed, which are the basis of state policy of our people. As a result of this policy, more than five hundred newspapers and magazines, news agencies, broadcasters and other organs are now free to operate in the country. It was noted that as a result of successfully implemented public policy, our national press has become a priority in the field of propaganda of our society to strengthen our statehood and everyday demand. In conclusion, the Head of Executive Power expressed his congratulations and good wishes to the participants after the big day, wished the workers the press objectivity, high professionalism and true civil position in bringing information about situation in our country and the world events, as well as coverage of the democratic changes in Azerbaijan in the comments on the international scene. At the regional conference presentations on the subject were made by the Executive Director of the State Fund for the Support of Mass Media Development under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Vugar Safarli, Chairperson of the Press Council of Azerbaijan Aflatun Amashov, editor in chief of "Yeni Azerbaijan" newspaper Hikmat Babaoglu, chairperson of the International Eurasian Press Fund Umid Mirzayev. Speakers, looking back at the historical path, spoke today about the challenges facing modern journalism and regional press, and mentioned the national press and the state care provided to reporters. Taking part in the conference Deputies of the Heads of Executive Powers, newspaper editors, in their speeches spoke about the work carried out, aimed at the development of this sector in recent years, the current state of the regional press. Finally, a video was demonstrated about the life path of the national press of Azerbaijan.