DUSHANBE, December 29, Asia-Plus - Russia''s Foreign Ministry is aware of Azerbaijan''s decision to take two Russian TV channels off the air on its territory from July 1, 2007, the ministry''s official spokesman said.

"We hope the situation with the broadcasting of Russian TV channels in Azerbaijan will be resolved legally and in the spirit of traditional Russian-Azerbaijani partnership, and that TV viewers in the friendly country will be able to watch their favorite programs," Mikhail Kamynin said.

Azerbaijan''s National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting decided earlier on Thursday to take the ORT and Rossiya national TV channels off the air in order to boost the development of national television.

Nushiravan Magerramli, the council''s head, said: "National frequencies in Azerbaijan should belong to only local companies."

He also said foreign TV channels will be broadcasted by satellite and cable networks. Only Turkish national channel TRT will remain on the air until its agreement with Azerbaijan expires.

Azerbaijan''s relations with Russia have deteriorated since the South Caucasus country refused December 26 to buy natural gas from Russia at $235 per 1,000 cubic meters.