The co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for the monitoring of Azerbaijan, Pedro Agramunt (Spain, EPP/CD) and Joseph Debono Grech (Malta, SOC), have stressed the need for the creation of conditions which would allow for a fair electoral campaign during the forthcoming presidential election, in compliance with democratic standards.
Speaking at the end of a three-day fact-finding visit to Baku, they informed that they had urged the authorities to find a compromise on locations for election rallies in Baku which, while meeting safety requirements, would be easily accessible and close to the city centre. They have been given assurances that such a place would be found.
They also called on the authorities to ensure freedom of expression and to investigate all cases of beatings and harassment reported by some journalists and bring the perpetrators to justice. They raised some cases of detained journalists and activists, and drew the authorities' attention to the alleged deficiencies in the judicial procedure. They also raised other concerns with regard to the independence of justice.
Furthermore, they recalled concerns identified by PACE observers during previous elections and called on the authorities to address them without further delay.
In the Parliament, they expressed concern at the adoption of recent legislative acts, including the Law on Criminalisation of Defamation on the Internet, and the amendments to the Law on NGOs (limitation of NGO financing sources – Turan) and to the Code of Administrative offences (increase in the terms of administrative arrest – Turan).
Finally, the co-rapporteurs noted the authorities’ declared readiness to co-operate and undertake concrete measures in order to address their concerns. They announced that they would closely follow further developments.
During their visit, the co-rapporteurs met the President of the Republic, the Interior and Justice Ministers, the Prosecutor General, the President of the Supreme Court and the Chair of the Presidium of the Bar Association. In the Parliament, they met Speaker of theMilli Mejlis, the leaders of political parties in parliament, the Chair of the parliamentary Committee on Law Policy and State Building, and members of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE.
They also held meetings with leaders of the extra-parliamentary opposition and representatives of civil society. They met Ilgar Mammadov, the leader of the Republican Alternative Movement REAL, and Tofiq Yaqubli, deputy head of the Musavat Party, in a pre-trial detention centre in Baku. They also visited the Asan Service Centre in Baku, run by the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations.
According to Agramunt, during official meetings rapporteurs raised the issue of the arrested journalists and activists, and drew the attention of the authorities to possible shortcomings in the judicial order.
In this Agramunt refrained from estimates arrests of human rights activists believe that local political prisoners. "Those who have been on our list were released before the end of last year (meaning those arrested in connection with the rally of April 2, 2011 - annotated by Turan). As for the other cases of people arrested afterwards we have to consider the views of all sides," said Agramunt.
However, he said that the co-rapporteurs visited in jail opposition Ilgar Mamedov and Tofig Yagublu.
"During our meetings all the offers were heard and we hope that they will be met. We hope that the high economic development of Azerbaijan will be accompanied by democratic development of the country. In view of the upcoming elections, we will closely monitor this development," said Agramunt.
On the issue if they discussed during the meeting with officials the issues of reforming the electoral law and changes in the principles of formation of election commissions, Agramunt noted that the co-rapporteurs consider it important to carry out the recommendations put forward earlier by the PACE observation mission and the OSCE.
On the question of the relation of co-rapporteurs for the nomination of President Ilham Aliyev to the post of President of Azerbaijan for a third term in view of the negative opinion for this Venice Commission, Agramunt said he is not worried. However, he recalled his own country, where the functions of the president are performed by the king, who has been in power indefinitely.
On the question of his relation to the report of the "caviar diplomacy" in the PACE co-rapporteur said that he does not comment on "stupid things."
"It's coming up of the enemies of the Council of Europe," Agramunt said, adding that just as well speak of a "salmon diplomacy" or "cognac diplomacy" in Armenia.
The co-rapporteurs were reminded of the need to implement the resolution on the implementation of Azerbaijan's commitments to the Council of Europe, adopted by the PACE in January of this year on the basis of their report.
In addition, their current visit is connected with the preparation of a new report on the functioning of democratic institutions in Azerbaijan, which they must develop within 2 years.
Agramunt and Grech in status will be among the PACE observation mission for the presidential elections in Azerbaijan, the total population, which is about 40 deputies. -06c -
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