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Press release - 161(2009)
Congress Bureau calls for postponing referendum in Azerbaijan
Strasbourg, 02.03.2009 - The Bureau of the Council of Europe Congress
of Local and Regional Authorities today requested postponing the
referendum on constitutional amendments in Azerbaijan, scheduled for
18 March 2009, pending the opinion of the Venice Commission on their
conformity with European democratic norms, particularly with the
European Charter of Local Self-Government.
In its statement, the Bureau recalled that on 5 February 2009,
Congress President a.i. Ian Micallef expressed his concern to Prime
Minister of Azerbaijan Artur Rasizade on the proposed amendment to
Article 146 of the Constitution of Azerbaijan, because of its possible
inconsistency with certain provisions of the European Charter of Local
Self-Government, ratified by Azerbaijan in 2002. Article 146 provides
in particular for governmental control of the activities of
municipalities, which raises serious concerns and would be problematic
with regard to the Charter.
The Congress Bureau therefore welcomed the decision of the Azerbaijani
authorities to submit the draft constitutional reform to the European
Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) for opinion,
as the Congress President a.i. had recommended.
The Bureau regretted, however, that the Azerbaijani authorities
planned to go ahead with the referendum on 18 March 2009, and
requested that it be postponed so that the opinion of the Venice
Commission, which will be delivered on 13 March 2009, could be taken
into account.
Communication Unit of the Congress
of Local and Regional Authorities
Tel: +33 (0)3 90 21 49 36
Fax:+33 (0)3 88 41 27 51
[email protected]
www.coe.int/congress
Press release - 161(2009)
Congress Bureau calls for postponing referendum in Azerbaijan
Strasbourg, 02.03.2009 - The Bureau of the Council of Europe Congress
of Local and Regional Authorities today requested postponing the
referendum on constitutional amendments in Azerbaijan, scheduled for
18 March 2009, pending the opinion of the Venice Commission on their
conformity with European democratic norms, particularly with the
European Charter of Local Self-Government.
In its statement, the Bureau recalled that on 5 February 2009,
Congress President a.i. Ian Micallef expressed his concern to Prime
Minister of Azerbaijan Artur Rasizade on the proposed amendment to
Article 146 of the Constitution of Azerbaijan, because of its possible
inconsistency with certain provisions of the European Charter of Local
Self-Government, ratified by Azerbaijan in 2002. Article 146 provides
in particular for governmental control of the activities of
municipalities, which raises serious concerns and would be problematic
with regard to the Charter.
The Congress Bureau therefore welcomed the decision of the Azerbaijani
authorities to submit the draft constitutional reform to the European
Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) for opinion,
as the Congress President a.i. had recommended.
The Bureau regretted, however, that the Azerbaijani authorities
planned to go ahead with the referendum on 18 March 2009, and
requested that it be postponed so that the opinion of the Venice
Commission, which will be delivered on 13 March 2009, could be taken
into account.
Communication Unit of the Congress
of Local and Regional Authorities
Tel: +33 (0)3 90 21 49 36
Fax:+33 (0)3 88 41 27 51
[email protected]
www.coe.int/congress