Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

Co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), who arrived in the country to discuss relations, continue to meet with top-officials.

Azerbaijan's Justice Minister and Chairman of the Judicial-Legal Council Fikrat Mammadov met with Pedro Agramunt and Joseph Debono Grech on May 21.

Speaking at the meeting, the minister praised fruitful cooperation with the European Council, noting that the visit of Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland and the organization's Action Plan for Azerbaijan adopted for 2014-2016 would contribute to mutual activities.

Mammadov pointed to the reforms carried out successfully in the judicial-legal system, and informed the PACE co-rapporteurs of the improvement of the relevant legislation that expands the competence of the Judicial-Legal Council, increases the independence of judges and boosts their salaries considerably, contributes to the successful activities of administrative justice, etc.

Agramunt and Grech, in turn, hailed the implementation state of Azerbaijan's obligations, assumed after the country became a member of the Council of Europe.

Touching upon the progressive reforms carried out in the judicial-legal system, they also inquired about the activity of the Judicial-Legal Council and measures taken to increase confidence in the judicial system.

Agramunt and Grech also met Azerbaijan's Prosecutor General Zakir Garalov.

Addressing the meeting, Garalov said Azerbaijan attaches great importance to strengthening cooperation with the Council of Europe, noting that Azerbaijan is assuming the rotating chairmanship of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers.

The prosecutor general also highlighted the legislative acts signed by President Aliyev to modernize the judicial system in the country.

Briefing the PACE co-rapporteurs on the progress achieved in establishing a legal base, Garalov also spoke about the implementation of the state-of-the-art technologies for the activities of the Prosecutor Office.

The PACE co-rapporteurs, in turn, expressed satisfaction at the state of things and praised cooperation and consolidation of relations between Azerbaijan and Council of Europe.

Earlier, the PACE co-rapporteurs met with Azerbaijani Parliament's Committee on Legal Policy and State Building members and Interior Minister Ramil Usubov.