Lawmakers rap PACE`s decision
A lawmaker has severely criticized the decision of
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to
appoint a rapporteur on political prisoners in Azerbaijan, branding
it "a disgrace."
Zahid Oruj, deputy chairman of pro-government Ana Vatan party, said in parliament on Friday that the legislature should air its grievances against the measure, as PACE`s step "belittles Azerbaijan."
German parliamentarian Christoph Strasser has been appointed as the rapporteur on political prisoners. Some local rights champions maintain that there are over 60 such prisoners in the country, while the government dismisses the allegations.
Oruj noted that the political prisoners issue had been closed in Azerbaijan several years ago. However, the assembly has appointed its rapporteur based upon appeals by several NGO representatives.
Commenting on the matter, Parliament Speaker Ogtay Asadov labeled PACE`s move as a manifestation of double standards applied against Azerbaijan. He emphasized that the organization had taken the step to liken Azerbaijan with Armenia.
"They believe, in the Council of Europe, that Armenians are a nation worthy of empathy and should be helped after the elections. Now, they have appointed a rapporteur on political prisoners in Azerbaijan to equalize us to them. But even if they appoint 10 rapporteurs, it doesn`t matter."
Asadov also said there was no need for concern over such PACE decisions, as there are no political prisoners in Azerbaijan.
"They want to study the situation [in the country] after 2007, and we have no problems in this respect. The Milli Majlis (parliament) has passed two amnesty bills in the past two years, and thousands of people have been set free. Let them come and check this out," Asadov said.
Zahid Oruj, deputy chairman of pro-government Ana Vatan party, said in parliament on Friday that the legislature should air its grievances against the measure, as PACE`s step "belittles Azerbaijan."
German parliamentarian Christoph Strasser has been appointed as the rapporteur on political prisoners. Some local rights champions maintain that there are over 60 such prisoners in the country, while the government dismisses the allegations.
Oruj noted that the political prisoners issue had been closed in Azerbaijan several years ago. However, the assembly has appointed its rapporteur based upon appeals by several NGO representatives.
Commenting on the matter, Parliament Speaker Ogtay Asadov labeled PACE`s move as a manifestation of double standards applied against Azerbaijan. He emphasized that the organization had taken the step to liken Azerbaijan with Armenia.
"They believe, in the Council of Europe, that Armenians are a nation worthy of empathy and should be helped after the elections. Now, they have appointed a rapporteur on political prisoners in Azerbaijan to equalize us to them. But even if they appoint 10 rapporteurs, it doesn`t matter."
Asadov also said there was no need for concern over such PACE decisions, as there are no political prisoners in Azerbaijan.
"They want to study the situation [in the country] after 2007, and we have no problems in this respect. The Milli Majlis (parliament) has passed two amnesty bills in the past two years, and thousands of people have been set free. Let them come and check this out," Asadov said.
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