CE SECRETARY GENERAL WELCOMES AMNESTY DECREE OF AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT
Q. As known, regular session of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is due on 26-30 January. Agenda of the session includes an issue connect with fulfillment of the obligations Azerbaijan took before the Council of Europe. What can you tell in this regard?
A. First, I would like to notice that the said session coincides with the third anniversary of admission of Azerbaijan to the Council of Europe and this period enables not only to focus fulfillment by Azerbaijan those obligations, but also to analyze the Country’s accomplishments in the democratic process and realized democratic reforms. I am not going to count those achievements.
As to fulfillment of the taken obligations, this will be the second discussion related to this topic. The same disputes will be on Armenia and Georgia as well. Despite the continuing occupation of the Country’s lands, Azerbaijan has done a lot in fulfillment of the CE obligations.
Government of Azerbaijan makes successive steps in this direction. Parliament of the Republic has adopted relevant laws and several joined international Conventions to meet the requirements of the Council of Europe. And this evidences the good will of Azerbaijani state for democratization of society in the Republic. The Council of Europe representatives have greatly assessed these undertakings.
As stated, PACE Monitoring Committee is preparing appropriate Memo on these issues.
Touching the issue of political prisoners Mr. Mehdiyev stressed that the issue would be focused at the next session. “I have participated at the preliminary discussions that were enough positive and constructive. Evidence to this is that the Committee members have welcomed the Decree on amnesty issued by president Ilham Aliyev. This Decree has been a significant factor to change the Committee members’ opinion.
President Ilham Aliyev’s Decree on amnesty was also welcomed by the CE Secretary General Walter Schwimmer, leaders of the PACE and Committees, as well as by the head of the AGO monitoring group Mr. Ago. Mr. Walter Schwimmer sent a special letter whereby welcomed the Azerbaijan’s Decree on amnesty and assessed it as another step in fulfillment of the obligations.
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