PACE co-rapporteurs say
The co-rapporteurs for the monitoring of Azerbaijan
by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) have
said "it is better to consult on sensitive issues in advance" while
commenting on the March 18 Constitutional referendum.
"We wish that the draft amendments on the Constitution had been sent to the Venice Commission well ahead of the referendum," Andres Herkel and Evguenia Jivkova told the press at the end of an April 8-10 fact-finding visit to the country. "Seeking Council of Europe expertise in advance would have allowed the adoption of legislation in line with European standards."
The nationwide poll covered a number of changes to the Constitution, including one on removing a two-term limit on the presidency, an issue that had long been in the spotlight of the local and international community.
Also, the co-rapporteurs recommended that the draft law on conflict of interest be sent for an opinion to the Venice Commission, the Council of Europe`s group of independent legal experts, before its adoption by parliament. They also welcomed President Ilham Aliyev`s decision to send to the Commission certain draft laws on the implementation of amendments to the Constitution which were adopted by the referendum.
Further, Herkel and Jivkova welcomed Thursday`s release from prison of Mirza Sakit, a contributing writer to the opposition daily Azadlig, while encouraging authorities to release other imprisoned journalists.
During their visit, the two co-rapporteurs held meetings with senior Azerbaijani officials, members of the majority and opposition parties and NGOs. The rapporteurs also paid a visit to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
The aim of the visit was to assess Azerbaijan`s progress in fulfilling its obligations and commitments as a CE member state, in particular as regards the state of democracy, human rights and rule of law, with a view to preparing a new PACE report on Azerbaijan.
"We wish that the draft amendments on the Constitution had been sent to the Venice Commission well ahead of the referendum," Andres Herkel and Evguenia Jivkova told the press at the end of an April 8-10 fact-finding visit to the country. "Seeking Council of Europe expertise in advance would have allowed the adoption of legislation in line with European standards."
The nationwide poll covered a number of changes to the Constitution, including one on removing a two-term limit on the presidency, an issue that had long been in the spotlight of the local and international community.
Also, the co-rapporteurs recommended that the draft law on conflict of interest be sent for an opinion to the Venice Commission, the Council of Europe`s group of independent legal experts, before its adoption by parliament. They also welcomed President Ilham Aliyev`s decision to send to the Commission certain draft laws on the implementation of amendments to the Constitution which were adopted by the referendum.
Further, Herkel and Jivkova welcomed Thursday`s release from prison of Mirza Sakit, a contributing writer to the opposition daily Azadlig, while encouraging authorities to release other imprisoned journalists.
During their visit, the two co-rapporteurs held meetings with senior Azerbaijani officials, members of the majority and opposition parties and NGOs. The rapporteurs also paid a visit to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
The aim of the visit was to assess Azerbaijan`s progress in fulfilling its obligations and commitments as a CE member state, in particular as regards the state of democracy, human rights and rule of law, with a view to preparing a new PACE report on Azerbaijan.
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