PACE ADOPTS RESOLUTION ON FUNCTIONING OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS IN AZERBAIJAN
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) at its summer session has adopted the resolution on the functioning of democratic institutions in Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijan delegation to the PACE participated in the summer session discussions. The delegation includes Samad Seyidov, chairman of the Milli Majlis standing commission on international relations and interparliamentary ties, Ali Huseynov, chairman of the Milli Majlis commission on legal policy and state building, Gultakin Hajiyeva, Rafael Huseynov, Ganira Pashayeva and Sabir Hajiyev, MPs.
During the discussions on the functioning of democratic institutions in Azerbaijan PACE Monitoring Commission co-rapporteurs for Azerbaijan Andres Herkel (Estonia) and Evguenia Jivkova (Bulgaria) told of the human rights reforms in Azerbaijan, implementation of Venice Commission`s recommendations with regard to the election campaign
Co-rapporteurs supported Azerbaijan`s struggle against international terrorism. They hailed presidential pardon decree, which led to the release of 59 prisoners including 5 journalists.
They praised adoption of the law on freedom of assembly. Rapporteurs noted that Milli Majlis discussed the law on money laundering.
Co-rapporteurs noted the noted the Electoral Code, with amendments adopted, allows to conduct free elections. They expressed their views on the freedom of speech and media situation in the country.
Jivkova and Herkel pointed out that refugee camps had been shut down, saying the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict impedes economic progress in the region.
Azerbaijani MPs informed PACE deputies on the destruction of monuments in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. They said allegations on destruction of Armenian monuments in Nakhchivan are groundless.
The amendments to the resolution “the functioning of democratic institutions in Azerbaijan” put forward by the Azerbaijani delegation were all adopted with none of amendments of the Armenian deputies taken into consideration. The document highlights economic progress in Azerbaijan, democratic reforms in line with European standards, and urges opposition parties to participate in the election process. The Assembly regretted that the main opposition parties did not participate in a discussion of amendments to the Electoral Code of Azerbaijan concerning the composition of the electoral commissions and the complaint and appeal procedures.
In the resolution, the Assembly welcomed the adoption of Codes of Conduct for both judges and public prosecutors in line with the Council of Europe expert recommendations. It found a need to adopt the laws on alternative civilian service, national minorities, and ratify the Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
The Assembly considers that sustainable democratic development will be extremely difficult in Azerbaijan as long as the country’s territorial integrity has not been restored
The Assembly took note of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution “on the situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan”, adopted on 14 March 2008, which expresses serious concern that the armed conflict in and around the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan continues to endanger international peace and security, reaffirms Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, expresses support for its internationally recognized borders and demands the immediate withdrawal of Armenian forces from the occupied territories.
After the amendments were made, the draft resolutions was adopted by 114 votes in favor to 9 against, with 10 abstentions.
Other news in this section
