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The activity of democratic institutions in Azerbaijan is discussed on the second working day of the summer session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). Co-rapporteurs of the PACE Monitoring Committee on Azerbaijan Andres Herkel and Eugenia Zivkova delivered speeches at the meeting, APA European bureau reports. Andres Herkel said the situation in Azerbaijan still causes concern. “We have to think about why today we are discussing Azerbaijan again, because the situation in Azerbaijan still causes concern.
We concern about the human rights situation, particularly about the freedom of mass media in the country. There is no heartwarming situation in this field. Unfortunately such kind of facts can play a negative role in the achievement of positive changes. However we welcome the adoption of law on the “Freedom of Assembly” and parliament discussions on the prevention of money laundering and terrorism. I believe these laws will also be adopted soon. One of the main points relates to the amendments to the Electoral Code on the basis of our and Venice Commission’s advises. I should note that not all advises were discussed at the parliament and there are problems in the forming of election commissions.
Arrest of the journalists creates non-friendly pre-election environment. May be there are criminal elements in these arrests, but we should acknowledge that it has political sides too”. Eugenia Zivkova positively appreciated the releasing of 59 persons, including 5 journalists by the pardon decree issued by President Ilham Aliyev. “I consider you will see that this report was balanced. We think that next elections in Azerbaijan will be more democratic. Points of this report are very objective, but I should notice that the problems remain in some fields”. Later on member of the Azerbaijani delegation Gultakin Hajiyeva delivered a speech: “I hope Armenian delegation and Armenian oppositionists will recognize the fact of occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia”.
Gultakin Hajiyeva emphasized that a part of Azerbaijani territories is under the occupation and this fact is contrary to the principles of the Council of Europe. “The fulfillment of Azerbaijan’s obligations before the Council of Europe is discussed not for the first time. There are serious problems in the democracy, corruption and other fields in the most post-soviet countries. We witness the double standards and double approaches in these issues. It is necessary to be objective speaking about these countries.
PACE Committee on Culture, Education and Science is very concerning about the destruction of Christian and Albanian cemeteries in Azerbaijan. There is a question: “Why we should destroy our cultural and historical heritages?” Many monuments belonging to the Azerbaijani history and culture were destroyed in the territory of Armenia. I would like that PACE Committee on Culture, Education and Science to show in its report the fact of destruction of hundreds mosques and cemeteries in Azerbaijan by the Armenians and not to bring the attention only to Nakhchivan.
Azerbaijan is always ready for the cooperation in this field”. Chairman of PACE Monitoring Committee Sergei Golovatiy said the questions arising from the report were discussed at his committee at first. “It is not our mistake that 7-8 reports are made on Azerbaijan. It needs to respect the democracy, legal state and supremacy of law in the country. I hope that there will be no need to bring this issue on agenda again in 2009 and we will not speak about the violation of law during the elections even there will be discussions on Azerbaijan.
It depends on the desire of Azerbaijan’s government.” After the discussions, voting on the proposals and amendments to the resolution on the democratic institutions in Azerbaijan was held. All annexes and amendments proposed by the Azerbaijani side were adopted. Armenian proposals to change the provisions about the occupation of Azerbaijani lands were not accepted. British parliamentarian Edward O’Hara attempted to change the resolution’s 14th paragraph on the fact-finding mission on the cultural heritage of South Caucasus. O’Hara and other parliamentarians demanded to include the provision about the Azerbaijan’s prevention the mission’s visit to the region.
The member of the Azerbaijani delegation Gultakin Hajiyeva protested it and said this mission should visit the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and this visit should be realized passing through the territory of Azerbaijan. After the Gultakin Hajiyeva’s speech, Edward O’Hara’s proposal was rejected during the voting. At the end of the discussions draft resolution #11627 on the activity of democratic institutions in Azerbaijan was adopted with the annexes and amendments. It was said in the resolution that media problems and restriction of freedom of assembly in Azerbaijan, the member of the Council of Europe cause concerns.
Importance of the release of the three arrested journalists was emphasized in the document. The resolution makes advises related to the work to be done until the presidential elections, which are maintenance of balance in the forming of election commissions, improving of system for the review of complaints, free air time for the political parties and blocks in the state-run TV channels and guarantee for the rights of different parties to hold meeting. It was emphasized in the resolution that restoration of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is necessary and is important factor in the development of democracy in the country.
