TODAY.AZ / Politics

Ago Group prepares report on Azerbaijan

23 April 2008 [08:57] - TODAY.AZ
Ago Group will submit a report on implementation of commitments by Azerbaijan and Armenia to CE Cabinet of Ministers tomorrow, CE Cabinet of Ministers told APA.
The report covers political prisoners and freedom of speech and press. Ago group stressed the importance of amendments to the Electoral Code and added that the work with the Venice Commission in this direction was underway.

The group took into account of problems of NGOs with freedom of assembly and called Azerbaijani Government to adopt this decision soon.

Ago Group is anxious about hunger strike initiated by imprisoned journalists and called Azerbaijani Government to be sensitive on the freedom of speech. Moreover, the document envisages independence of National Television and Radio Council.

Ago Group assessed reforms taken on personnel in Court system.

"But there are some shortcomings in this field. Level of the free legal assistance is not satisfactory, but it is estimable to hold trainings, to intensify the anti-corruption methods and to increase payment. The Council of Europe is ready to assist such developments".

AGO Group emphasized the importance of the constitutional basis for the Court-Legal Council and amendments to the Criminal Code, as well as adoption of the bill on defamation. Nagrono Karabakh conflict was also touched in the report.

"The settlement of the conflict is developing within the mediation of OSCE Minsk Group and there are some progresses in this direction. One of these progresses is the adoption of UN resolution on the situation in the occupied Azerbaijani territory on March 14. The parties support the peaceful solution of the conflict as soon as possible. Although the Council of Europe has no authority to involve in the solution process, it is ready to share its experience to accustom the communities to the peace and to define the points of agreement".

At the end it was emphasized in the report that Azerbaijan made progress in fulfilling its obligations before the Council of Europe. Despite that laws on media, democracy, local self-administration and freedom of assembly don’t come into force yet.

"Dialogue has to be launched between the government and opposition. Open, transparent and responsible conditions should be created and trainings of CE values should be organized in the country".

/APA/
URL: http://www.today.az/news/politics/44473.html

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