Gov't pledges to review CE proposals
A senior Azerbaijani official has said the government would take
into consideration the Council of Europe's recent proposals on
electoral legislation, freedom of speech and the media.
"The authorities are studying the recommendations of the Ago monitoring group. Most of them will be taken into account in the spirit of cooperation between the CE and Azerbaijan," head of the President's Office socio-political department, Ali Hasanov, told reporters on Friday.
The CE Committee of Ministers on Thursday passed a decision based on a report summarizing a recent visit by the Ago group's mission to the region that aimed to examine Azerbaijan and Armenia's compliance with their international obligations. It recommended that Azerbaijan pass legislation by late May amending the Law on Freedom of Assembly that is currently on the parliament's agenda as well as the Election Code. The CE also suggested carrying out extensive work to free the three jailed journalists and to conduct comprehensive and effective preparations for the upcoming presidential elections.
Hasanov said Azerbaijan attached particular importance to its cooperation with the CE, and the Ago group in particular, in a number of areas including the electoral process, domestic policy and civil society-building.
Hasanov pledged that the government would welcome any changes in line with Azerbaijan's realities, statehood and the developments ongoing in the country.
He said that while in Baku, the Ago representatives had a meeting at the President's Office. They hailed the head of state's decree issued in late 2007 to pardon six journalists and requested that the release of the remaining journalists be considered if possible.
"There is a recommendation, and I think it will be studied," Hasanov added.
The imprisoned journalists are Eynulla Fatullayev, editor-in-chief of Realny Azerbaijan and Gundalik Azerbaijan newspapers; Mirza Sakit, writer for Azadlig daily; and Ganimat Zahid, editor-in-chief of the same paper.
In conclusion of the report, the CE said Azerbaijan had made tangible advances in meeting its obligations to the organization.
"The authorities are studying the recommendations of the Ago monitoring group. Most of them will be taken into account in the spirit of cooperation between the CE and Azerbaijan," head of the President's Office socio-political department, Ali Hasanov, told reporters on Friday.
The CE Committee of Ministers on Thursday passed a decision based on a report summarizing a recent visit by the Ago group's mission to the region that aimed to examine Azerbaijan and Armenia's compliance with their international obligations. It recommended that Azerbaijan pass legislation by late May amending the Law on Freedom of Assembly that is currently on the parliament's agenda as well as the Election Code. The CE also suggested carrying out extensive work to free the three jailed journalists and to conduct comprehensive and effective preparations for the upcoming presidential elections.
Hasanov said Azerbaijan attached particular importance to its cooperation with the CE, and the Ago group in particular, in a number of areas including the electoral process, domestic policy and civil society-building.
Hasanov pledged that the government would welcome any changes in line with Azerbaijan's realities, statehood and the developments ongoing in the country.
He said that while in Baku, the Ago representatives had a meeting at the President's Office. They hailed the head of state's decree issued in late 2007 to pardon six journalists and requested that the release of the remaining journalists be considered if possible.
"There is a recommendation, and I think it will be studied," Hasanov added.
The imprisoned journalists are Eynulla Fatullayev, editor-in-chief of Realny Azerbaijan and Gundalik Azerbaijan newspapers; Mirza Sakit, writer for Azadlig daily; and Ganimat Zahid, editor-in-chief of the same paper.
In conclusion of the report, the CE said Azerbaijan had made tangible advances in meeting its obligations to the organization.
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