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PACE PRESIDENT ENCOURAGES PURSUIT OF NEGOTIATIONS WITHIN THE MINSK GROUP TO RESOLVE THE CONFLICT OVER NAGORNO-KARABAKH
ARMINFO
Thursday, May 30, 14:07
Following a visit to Baku, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe (PACE) made a statement calling for reinforced
co-operation between Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe, with a
view to preparing for the forthcoming Azerbaijani chairmanship of
the Council's Committee of Ministers, beginning in May 2014.
"Since its independence and accession to the Council of Europe,
Azerbaijan has undergone significant changes that pave the way for
building a prosperous society based on European values and focusing
on European and transatlantic partnership" he declared.
He added "I welcome the country's progress in honouring the commitments
and obligations it entered into upon its accession, and in particular
the fact that Azerbaijan has signed and ratified all of the Council
of Europe conventions which it undertook to adhere to, with but one
exception. I also note the advances made in reforming the judiciary
and combating corruption".
"However, some important reforms are not yet complete, and I call on
the authorities to implement all of the Assembly's recommendations
set out in Resolution 1917 (2013) on the honouring of obligations and
commitments by Azerbaijan. Full respect for fundamental freedoms,
in particular freedom of expression, assembly and association, is
essential, and the legislation and regulations, as well as their
application in practice, must be fully consistent with Council of
Europe standards."
On this subject, the PACE President encouraged the authorities to
implement more effective co- operation with the Venice Commission
by seeking its advice from the outset of the legislative process. He
urged them to take full account of the Commission's recommendations.
The PACE President also pointed out that the presidential elections,
to be held this year, will be a key test for the country's democratic
institutions and called for full respect of European standards
in electoral matters, so that the elections could take place in a
pluralistic environment and with free and open political debate.
On the issue of alleged political prisoners, the PACE President
recalled the Assembly's position rejecting selective justice and
politically motivated prosecutions in all countries. He called on the
authorities to implement the PACE resolutions on this question, notably
Resolution 1917 (2013) on the honouring of obligations and commitments
by Azerbaijan. "The charges brought against Ilgar Mammadov have raised
serious concerns in all European and international organisations,
and I hope that the Azerbaijani courts will decide the case in a
completely independent and impartial manner and in full compliance
with the European Convention on Human Rights", said the PACE President.
He recalled the importance attached by PACE to Azerbaijan's
territorial integrity and encouraged the pursuit of the negotiations
taking place within the Minsk Group to resolve the conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh. "On their accession to the Council of Europe,
Armenia and Azerbaijan undertook to find a peaceful solution to this
conflict. Our Assembly is ready to do everything it can, through
parliamentary diplomacy, to facilitate dialogue and establish a
climate of trust between the two delegations."
ARMINFO
Thursday, May 30, 14:07
Following a visit to Baku, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe (PACE) made a statement calling for reinforced
co-operation between Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe, with a
view to preparing for the forthcoming Azerbaijani chairmanship of
the Council's Committee of Ministers, beginning in May 2014.
"Since its independence and accession to the Council of Europe,
Azerbaijan has undergone significant changes that pave the way for
building a prosperous society based on European values and focusing
on European and transatlantic partnership" he declared.
He added "I welcome the country's progress in honouring the commitments
and obligations it entered into upon its accession, and in particular
the fact that Azerbaijan has signed and ratified all of the Council
of Europe conventions which it undertook to adhere to, with but one
exception. I also note the advances made in reforming the judiciary
and combating corruption".
"However, some important reforms are not yet complete, and I call on
the authorities to implement all of the Assembly's recommendations
set out in Resolution 1917 (2013) on the honouring of obligations and
commitments by Azerbaijan. Full respect for fundamental freedoms,
in particular freedom of expression, assembly and association, is
essential, and the legislation and regulations, as well as their
application in practice, must be fully consistent with Council of
Europe standards."
On this subject, the PACE President encouraged the authorities to
implement more effective co- operation with the Venice Commission
by seeking its advice from the outset of the legislative process. He
urged them to take full account of the Commission's recommendations.
The PACE President also pointed out that the presidential elections,
to be held this year, will be a key test for the country's democratic
institutions and called for full respect of European standards
in electoral matters, so that the elections could take place in a
pluralistic environment and with free and open political debate.
On the issue of alleged political prisoners, the PACE President
recalled the Assembly's position rejecting selective justice and
politically motivated prosecutions in all countries. He called on the
authorities to implement the PACE resolutions on this question, notably
Resolution 1917 (2013) on the honouring of obligations and commitments
by Azerbaijan. "The charges brought against Ilgar Mammadov have raised
serious concerns in all European and international organisations,
and I hope that the Azerbaijani courts will decide the case in a
completely independent and impartial manner and in full compliance
with the European Convention on Human Rights", said the PACE President.
He recalled the importance attached by PACE to Azerbaijan's
territorial integrity and encouraged the pursuit of the negotiations
taking place within the Minsk Group to resolve the conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh. "On their accession to the Council of Europe,
Armenia and Azerbaijan undertook to find a peaceful solution to this
conflict. Our Assembly is ready to do everything it can, through
parliamentary diplomacy, to facilitate dialogue and establish a
climate of trust between the two delegations."