HIS EXCELLENCY MR. ILHAM ALIYEVPRESIDENT-ELECT REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN
I congratulate You on your election to the presidency of the Republic of Azerbaijan. It is always gratifying when a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is elected to a post of such high responsibility.
Your Experience as a Vice-President of the Assembly, a member of its Bureau and a member of several of its Committees, will undoubtedly have fostered in you as deep commitment to the fundamental values that inspire the Council of Europe and its member States.
I am convinced that these values – respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law – will inspire and guide you in your high office and that you personally will ensure that these values are protected, fostered, and daily put into practice in Azerbaijan.
The continuing concern expressed by the Assembly’s Monitoring Committee, the issue of political prisoners, as well as recent events surrounding the elections and regarding the press, would seem to indicate that much needs to be done in this direction. As I said in my statement on Monday, “the events after the presidential election have deepened our concerns about Azerbaijan’ willingness to respect Council of Europe standards. At its meeting on 6 November, the bureau of the Assembly will consider a report of its Executive Mission to Azerbaijan and discuss follow-up”.
In this context, it is clear to me that we must be guided by the maxim ‘Short reckoning make long friends’. I am confident that as president of Azerbaijan, you will be well placed to guide your country in the shortest possible time towards full compliance with the commitments, which the Government of Azerbaijan signed up to when joining the Council of Europe in 2001.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Schieder,
Chairman of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Strasbourg, 22 October 2003
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