Catherine Ashton: we ask Baku human rights issues

EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, sent a reply message to a group of members of European parliament  who drew her attention to human rights violations in Azerbaijan after the  "Eurovision" contest.

According to the committee to protect the rights activist Hilal Mammadov,  the  response  states:

"Though  the release of all the arrested protesters in April 2011, is a step in the right direction, so far there are reports on restrictions and violations of media freedoms, including the cases of Mr. Huseynov and Mr. Mammadov.

The EU has repeatedly pointed out, and points to the importance of freedom of expression in all directions. This was one of the reasons for visits of the  President of European Council, Van Rompuy, in July, Commissioner Füle in April, and my visit in November 2011.

Individual questions, as well as all the human rights situation in the country, as a rule,  are brought up  during political dialogues, such as the Committee and the Council for Cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan, and the Subcommittee on Human Rights. All of these groups plan to meet again in the final quarter of 2012.

The EU, through its delegation in Baku continues to monitor the respect of these matters, and holds regular meetings with representatives of civil society and human rights activists to discuss these issues," said the response  of Ashton. -02D-