Bahar Muradova: We are in constant contact with the opposition

No draft law "On defamation” has been received by parliament, but deputies are studying various options of  such a law in foreign countries, said the vice-speaker of Azerbaijani parliament, Bahar Muradova at a press conference on Tuesday.

    According to Muradova, in many countries such legislation has not been adopted, and its adoption is  a recommendation, not a requirement of international structures. "We are interested in cooperation with international organizations, and always listen to them.  A number of changes have been made in our election code, which means it is constantly being improved. If there is a need for further improvements, the changes will be made," she said.

   She also reminded the press conference that recently she participated in the OSCE PA summer session in Monaco (3-10 July), where it was decided to hold the next summer session of the OSCE in 2013 in Baku.

    The head of the parliamentary committee MM and International Relations, Samed Seyidov, responding to the question  on future activities of rapporteurs of PACE Monitoring Committee on Azerbaijan   Sin and Argamunt, said  that the Committee itself will decide.

   A report on Azerbaijan, submitted at the summer session, will be discussed at a PACE  subsequent session.  As for the PACE rapporteur  for political prisoners, Christopher Strasser, his list of political prisoners "is incorrect."   "There are persons on his list who have already been released, there are persons who have committed acts of terrorism, there are names that are not in prison," said Seyidov.

     Head of the Secretariat  of the parliament, Safa Mirzayev, answering the question of the entry into force of the law "On political  parties" said  that the president signed the law. However, its entry into force will be delayed because the state budget does not provide for the Article on expenditure under this Act.

    Vice-Speaker, Bahar Muradova, answered the question about the dialogue between authorities and opposition. According to her, the opposition and the authorities are in constant contact. As for the last speech of the President of the country when he criticized the opposition, then there is nothing strange, said Muradova.

   "The opposition always criticizes the government, why can’t  the president criticize the opposition, there is nothing strange in  it," Muradova said.

    The press conference was devoted to the results of the spring session of the Milli Mejlis. During these sessions, 13 meetings were held, 28  laws and decisions were adopted. In the first half of 2012 were accepted 2201 citizens, and proposals, complaints and applications were received from 2312 people. -04С-