Ensuring human rights in Azerbaijan is ultimate goal of state: official
By Gunay Camal
Azerbaijan, as one of the developed countries of the region,
fully ensures human rights.
The statement was made by Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Bahar
Muradova during the hearings in the Parliament dedicated to the
Human Rights Day in the country on June 16.
Today's success of Azerbaijan are connected with the name of Heydar
Aliyev, Muradova said, stressing that after returning to power
Heydar Aliyev defined the rights and freedoms as the main principle
of his activities.
Speaking at the event, Ali Hasanov, the Azerbaijani president's
aide for public and political affairs, said that ensuring human
rights and freedoms, and a decent standard of life of citizens are
the highest goals of Azerbaijani state.
Independence means not only realization of Azerbaijani people's
aspirations regarding statehood, but also an opportunity to secure
human rights and freedoms, Hasanov added.
In early years of Azerbaijan's independence, the country saw massive human rights violations, he said. "Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan and with the help of its patrons occupied the country's Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts."
"Thus, more than one million people became refugees and IDPs," Hasanov noted. "Unfortunately, a number of international organizations and states speaking under the slogan of human rights give no assessment to such a gross violation of the rights of more than one million citizens."
Armenia keeps under occupation 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, ignoring the UN Security Council's four resolutions on immediate withdrawal from the occupied lands.
Hasanov further emphasized that all sectors, including NGOs and the media, require transparency.
“Recently, President Ilham Aliyev banned all the checks for private companies, with the exception of tax audits for two years. However, some forces under the guise of NGOs try to carry out illegal inspections on fire safety rules and protection of consumer rights in those enterprises,” he said.
The top official pointed out that currently, quite enough number of journalists are engaged in racketeering.
Hasanov recalled that once a minister complained to him regarding blackmail from a newspaper, and it later turned out that the name of a journalist involved in the mentioned blackmail, is under 15 criminal charges. The official added that such incidents are unacceptable.
Each NGO and media outlet has tasks and they should create a transparent atmosphere for discussions, said the president's aide.
Hasanov noted that democracy and civil society are very closely linked to the freedom of assembly, association and expression.
Today, 55 political parties, 3,000 non-governmental organizations, as well as civil society organizations involving nearly 2 million people freely operate in the country, he underlined.
Hasanov said that protection of freedom of opinion and expression, and freedom of information are on the focus of the government. “It’s very easy create a newspaper or magazine in Azerbaijan. So, a body can start publication in seven days after submitting relevant documents to the Justice Ministry,” he said.
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