Herkel Comments on PACE Situations

On June 29th (the last day of the summer session) PACE adopted a resolution on "Status of the Monitoring Procedures."  The document was adopted on the report from lead of the PACE Monitoring Committee of the Estonian, Deputy Andres Herkel.

In an interview with  Turan,  Herkel explained that such documents are taken periodically and summarize the work of monitoring the situation  by the speakers in the countries that are under the monitor.

The resolution does not contain specific recommendations, but it reflects the most problematic issues in the countries under monitoring.

According to Herkel, over the past year the Monitoring Committee held a hearing on the prosecution of politicians in Ukraine, the state of affairs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the pressure on the opposition in the Russian Federation, Amnesty International report about prisoners of conscience in Azerbaijan.

Herkel said that a further report on Azerbaijan will be presented at the January or April session of the PACE  in 2013.

Herkel refrained to comment on appeals of civil society of Azerbaijan to replace Pedro Agramunt and Joseph Grekh, as rapporteurs on Azerbaijan. "I have received such requests, but do not want to comment on this,"  said Herkel. Appointment of rapporteurs  is not  the privilege of the head of the Monitoring Committee, and all of its members, said Herkel.  Answering the question , if there are procedures and mechanisms to change the speakers without their plea, Herkel said that "practically no." However, Herkel said that during discussions on the situation of Human Rights in Europe, he  noted the need  for cooperation of  speakers with Civil Society activists. The resolution adopted on the basis of the report Herkel expressed concern about the state of democracy, Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom. In particular, it points to the limitations on political activity, torture and ill-treatment by law enforcement officials, serious  violations of freedom of expression, opinion, assembly, association and religion, as well as the illegal demolition of houses in Baku and forced evictions.

There are problems connected with  the financing of political parties,  persecution of non-parliamentary opposition, which prevents the creation of pluralism and democratic atmosphere necessary for a fair election.

The Azerbaijani authorities in collaboration with the Venice Commission  are to prepare amendments to the Electoral Code, based on previous recommendations of the PACE. It is recommended to adopt the amendments to mid-2013,  to be  used  in the presidential election in October of that year. It also indicates that previously put forward recommendations of the Venice Commission and ODIHR on the composition of election commissions, the rights of candidates, complaints procedures, Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,  have not been  adopted.—06В-