Azerbaijani MPs make remarks at OSCE PA winter session
Vienna, February 15 (AZERTAC). Rapporteur Gordana Comic made her remarks about the Baku summer session at the meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions. Speakers for the Committee included OSCE Human Dimension Committee Chair Robert Kvile, ODIHR Director Janez Lenarcic.
In response to the remarks of Lenarcic, Azeri MP Agalar Veliyev said international organizations often assess election process differently. However, he underlined that discrepancies between agencies of the same organization - OSCE PA and ODIHR - are unacceptable, and constitute an unfair approach to the country. “It also harms the image of the organization which sends the observation mission. It happened in Azerbaijan last year. OSCE PA and OSCE ODIHR made public totally different results of the elections.”
Veliyev noted that ODIHR must be transparent and impartial in its activity and avoid being used as a tool to heap political pressure on the OSCE member countries. He proposed to introduce the election monitoring-related activity of the organization for discussion within the Helsinki+40 format and at the Parliamentary Assembly.
MP Azay Guliyev, in his remarks, noted that the resolution on Strengthening Civil Society Institutions in the OSCE region was adopted last year at the Istanbul Summit at the initiative of Azerbaijan. “The resolution provides for discussions between the OSCE and civil society. It shows that Azerbaijan places a particular emphasis on these values not only in the country but also within the OSCE. The Council of Governmental Support for NGOs provides financial assistance to all the NGOs without any discrimination. He said the legal environment in the country enables NGOs to work freely. The presidential order on application of the law on public engagement opens the way for civil society institutions to oversee the government agencies.”
The official opening of the session was addressed by Ranko Krivokapic, OSCE PA President, and Barbara Prammer, President of the National Council of Austria. Later, OSCE PA Secretary Spencer Oliver delivered a report on the organization`s activity last year.
The session also featured meetings of the OSCE PA general committees on political affairs and security and on economic affairs, science, technology and environment.
Speaking to the meeting of the general committee on political affairs and security, Deputy Milli Majlis Speaker, head of the Azerbaijani delegation to the OSCE PA Bahar Muradova spoke of the implementation of the Istanbul declaration, and work within the Helsinki+40 process. She said that it is the right time to prepare the document on the activity, plan and position of the Assembly at the autumn session held in Dubrovnik, Croatia in 2011.
Muradova said that entrusting a special representative for the South Caucasus with addressing this issue would contribute to resolution of the conflicts, and expressed hope that serious steps would be undertaken to bring the Istanbul Declaration to fruition.
Addressing the meeting of the general committee on economic affairs, science, technology and environment, MP Eldar Ibrahimov pointed out that rational use of water resources in the world becomes increasingly important. According to him, unlike Armenia, Azerbaijan joined the UN`s respective convention in 1992. On top of all, Armenia commits “water terror” against Azerbaijan, by polluting rivers in particular Okhchu River in the occupied lands. According to him, the Sarsang reservoir in the occupied lands is in critical conditions and the possible accident can leave half a million of people in Azerbaijan under water.
He called for the serious approach of the OSCE to this problem and for support to end occupation of the Azerbaijani lands and the water reservoir in accordance with the international law and UN resolutions.
The Azerbaijani delegation held a number of meetings with the parliamentarians from Sweden, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Baltic states as well as President of the OSCE PA Ranko Krivokapic and Secretary General Spencer Oliver.
Discussions at the meetings revolved around Assembly`s agenda, ongoing processes in the OSCE region, topics to be debated at the Baku session.
The meeting with Krivokapic discussed the issues related to the conduct of the summer session in Baku and his possible pre-session visit to the Azerbaijani capital.
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