Representative of UN High Commissariat: "I am satisfied with interaction of Azerbaijani and Georgian ombudsmen in defending rights of national minorities"

- What is a priority of the activity of the UN High Commissariat in Azerbaijan?

- My role here as a UN representative, as well as a high commissioner, is mostly to increase potential of the administration and assist the ombudsman's office in its efforts to improve human rights situation in Azerbaijan. In other words, we are here, first, to promote improvement of the situation through national levers, which is very important and to asses the situation from time to time.

- Presidential elections in Azerbaijan will be held on October 15. Do representatives of your structure intend to observe the election process?

- We will certainly observe the process in the framework of the general context of human rights observation. At the same time, I do hope that representatives of the OSCE and Bureau of Democratic Institutes and Human Rights-international organizations, having huge experience and mandate of observing the elections will be here.

- Issue of violation of human rights of Azerbaijanis in Georgia is being frequently raised. Do you think it an urgent problem?

- It was due to history that in Georgia and in Azerbaijan there are Azerbaijani and Georgian national minorities. This is a real fact, which should be taken into account by the governments of the two contries. Certainly, both countries have commitments on the protection of human rights of national minorities.

I think, the situation here is not too bad, considering good cooperation between the ombudsmen of the two countries on the said issue. The ombudsmen of Azerbaijan and Georgia maintain a really good cooperation. I have been informed that ombudsmen are interacting on a number of signals, received about religious rights for example, or the right for education.

- By the way, if ombudsman of Azerbaijan is criticized for being too close to authorities, the Georgian ombudsman on the contrary is criticized of opposing them too greatly. What do you think are the main features of an ideal ombudsman?

- On the whole, the ombudsman's institute should maintain good relations with the state and the society and the most important with victims of violated human rights. And if there are good relations with all these sides, this institute will have good opportunities to fulfill its mission-defend human rights.

/Day.Az/