Sahiba Hasanova: ‘We were set a goal to achieve a positive result in getting a membership at the Radio Regulations Board of the International Telecommunication Union’
2018, which is already coming to a close, will be remembered for the successes our country has achieved in the international ICT arena. For the first time, a candidate from Azerbaijan was elected as a member of the Radio Regulations Board of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Our interviewee is a qualified radio communication engineer who has won this success for our country - an employee of the Telecommunications and Post Department of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies Sahiba Hasanova.
- Mrs. Sahiba Hasanova, you have signed a good start with your success. What stages did you have to pass on the path to victory?
- Yes, this event is the first achievement of this kind for our country. For the first time, the representative of Azerbaijan was elected as a member of the ITU’s elective body. This, first of all, is the result of the successful domestic and foreign policy pursued by our President. I would like to express my gratitude to the leadership of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies for offering my candidacy to the Board. I feel proud of the fact that I also contributed, though little, to the enhancement of our country’s image in the international arena.
Works had been carried out on a regular basis for almost two years to prepare for these elections. Minister Ramin Guluzade personally supervised the process of preparation for elections to both the ITU Council and the Radio Regulations Board (RRB). Let me point out to the fact that the order our minister signed to establish a working group for this purpose contained the words “in order to achieve a positive result”; that is a victory was the only thing we expected. So were vested with heavy responsibility.
The Ministry had been providing comprehensive support for propaganda work. This ensured my participation in preparatory meetings for the Plenipotentiary Conference and other high-level ITU meetings, held in different regions of the world. The regional meetings were very important for carrying out propaganda work and helped me to introducing myself. Time was allocated for nomination presentations at these meeting, and during this time I provided meeting participants with brief information about Azerbaijan, development of ICT sector in the country, as well as with information about myself and my experience. Note that because of the participation of other candidates at the meetings, it was very important to create a positive impression in these presentations.
There were 4 candidates to 2 places for the region C - Eastern Europe and Northern Asia - for which my candidacy was nominated. Besides Azerbaijan, candidates from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine were nominated for the Board. The Ukrainian candidate was a member of the Board, and thanks to his wide experience, he had a great opportunity to run for a second term. In political terms, Russia is considered one of the strongest countries in the world, and for this reason its candidates always achieve positive results. The representative of Kazakhstan for the second time participated in these elections, that is, he had some experience in elections. As for me, I was participating in the elections for the first time and I was the only female candidate.
But despite this, we were able to achieve a great result in the elections, however difficult they were. Thanks to the support I received from the country and the leadership of the ministry, I was able to score 115 votes, thereby outrunning candidates from Ukraine and Kazakhstan by 2 and 3 times taken together. This was a great success for our country and me.
- What kind of activities does the Radio Regulations Board carry out?
- The Radio Regulations Board has 12 members; only 12 of the 193 ITU member states are members of the Board. These members are elected for a term of 4 years at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference. Board meetings are held 4 times a year.
The Board is a global body responsible for the management of the radio frequency spectrum and satellite orbit resources. This body approves the procedure rules for the implementation of radio regulations, including the use of radio frequencies and satellite orbits. It also makes decisions on contentious issues arising between administrations of ITU member states. Decisions of the Board are made by secret voting, by at least a majority of 3/2 of votes.
It is a great responsibility and honor for someone to be represented in such an important body. I, in turn, will try to use all my knowledge and skills in my activity so that I could contribute to making the right decisions.
- What advantages will Azerbaijan get from the representation in the Board?
- From now on, Azerbaijan will take part in the Board’s meetings as a party making decisions. We will have authority in this Board as a party that approves the allocation of new satellite frequencies to 193 ITU member states and participates in making decision on contentious issues arising because of frequency interferences. And consequently, other countries will pay more attention and show more interest in Azerbaijan. The Republic of Azerbaijan will have the opportunity to get information on issues discussed at meetings of the Radio Regulations Board, and when other countries appeal for satellite frequencies, the Republic of Azerbaijan will take part in discussions, thereby increasing support for its position.
The application of new 5G mobile technology will begin in the world in the near future. New areas, such as the Internet of Things and technologies and solutions that are becoming an integral part of our life, are rapidly developing. Frequencies and orbital positions play an important role in all these issues.
I will do everything possible to achieve a positive solution for all issues regarding Azerbaijan so that it would be in the country’s interest.
It is true that the representation in this Board has some moments that may cause the clash of interests. For example, I will take part as an ITU staff member at the World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRC) in November 2019 and I will express my opinion there, however, I will not have the authority to represent Azerbaijan. But I will have the opportunity to provide all the necessary support to the representatives of Azerbaijan at the WRC - 2019.
- They say that success is a journey, not a destination. What will be your goals in this journey?
- First of all, I would like to note that it is a very big responsibility. As the first representative of Azerbaijan in the Board, I will have to fully demonstrate my knowledge and skills and to constantly increase my experience in this area. But the experience of cooperation with ITU, which I have to this day, makes it possible to achieve this with confidence.
Note that in 2015, I was the first Azerbaijani to become the vice-chairman of the working group for the study of satellites of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau and I am still holding this position. And in 2016, I was the first Azerbaijani to become a member of the working group on frequencies of the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO), and I am still holding this position, as well. I was the first representative of Azerbaijan in these organizations. This time I was also the first Azerbaijani to be elected as a member of the Radio Regulations Board. I will try to justify the trust of the state and our ministry and to achieve even greater results for my country in the future.
First of all, as a member of the Radio Regulations Board, I will work effectively for our country in the next 4 years, and I will also try to justify the trust of 115 countries who voted for me in the elections. Of course, with the support of our state, I plan to re-nominate my candidacy to the Radio Regulations Board after the four-year period, and I believe that I will make great efforts to win the elections.
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