Tallinn / 26.10.17 / Turan: "We want to help the civil society of Azerbaijan more, but there are restrictions in this country," said Johannes Khan, the European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, speaking today at the civil society conference of the Eastern Partnership countries in Tallinn. Responding a question about journalists and NGO representatives arrested in the country, Khan noted that Brussels is concerned about the fate of those under arrest.
"Sometimes a silent policy and non-advertising of negotiations give more results," he added.
Concerning further support to the civil society of the Eastern Partnership countries, Khan said that according to the plan for 2017-2020, the budget for NGOs will be increased by 20% to 170 million euros.
"An important result of the activities of the Eastern Partnership program is the support of civil society. In general, contacts have been established with more than 600 organizations in six countries over the years, about 100,000 small businesses have been assisted, more than 10,000 new jobs have been opened," Khan said.
Among the achievements of the program, he called the introduction of a visa-free regime with Georgia and Ukraine, which will soon affect Moldova. He also noted the negotiation of new agreements with Armenia and Azerbaijan. "We determine the level of our participation is adequate to the situation in each country," Khan said. -71B-
Politics
-
By 10:00 a.m., voter turnout in the snap parliamentary elections was 9.92%, the Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan reported.
-
The "Musavat" Party has reported violations in the first hours of the extraordinary Parliamentary elections. According to the press release, they are caused mainly by pressures of observers and the so-called "carousels".
-
Voting in the early elections to the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan began at 8:00. Voting is taking place at 6,478 polling stations throughout Azerbaijan, including the lands liberated from occupation. 990 candidates are competing for 125 seats in the unicameral parliament.
-
Armenia is not against the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group, but does not consider it appropriate to discuss this issue now. "In the context of peace, we consider it possible to make a decision on the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group. When peace is an established fact, the existence of such a format may raise questions," Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a press conference today. "The whole question is about the timing, we need to understand how effectively and correctly to turn such topics into a subject of discussion right now," the Armenian Prime Minister added.
Leave a review