PACE co-rapporteurs Andres Herkel and Eugenia Zhivkova to arrive in Baku

The due announcement was made by adviser for press of the head of CE Baku office Ilgar Ibrahimov, according to Novosti-Azerbaijan.

It should be noted that the official meetings will start on May 18. The visit will last until May 20.

"The visit aims at studying situation with execution of commitments before the Council of Europe, undertaken by Azerbaijan", said Ibrahimli.

He noted that Herkel and Zhivkova are to meet with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, head of Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehtiyev, Minister of National Security Eldar Mahmudov, prosecutor general Zakir Qaralov, members of the Azerbaijani delegation in PACE, chairman of the Central Election Commission Mazahir Panakhov, ombudsman Elmira Sultanova, chairman of National Television and Radio Broadcasting Council Nushirevan Meherremli.

Moreover, in the framework of the visit, the co-rapporteurs will meet with NGO representatives and leaders of a number of political parties.

The statement, posted at the official website of the Council of Europe, notes that Herkel and Zhivkova will arrive in Baku to assist to authorities in preparations of presidential elections, scheduled for October 15.

In the framework of the visit the co-rapporteurs will familiarize with the situation around mass media, and meet with imprisoned journalists. Moreover, parliamentarians intend to complete  their report on the activity of democratic institutions in Azerbaijan, says the statement.

Head of Azerbaijani delegation to PACE Samed Seidov told reporters previously that the rapporteurs would prepare a report by results of the visit to Baku.

"This report will be introduced for discussions at the session of the permanent commission of the Parliamentary assembly to be held in Stockholm (Sweden) on May 30", he noted.

Azerbaijan's execution of commitments undertaken before the Council of Europe will be discussed at the summer session of the CE Parliamentary Assembly in Strasbourg on June 23-27.