Herkel proposes to invite 5 opposition leaders to a sitting of PACE'S temporary monitoring committee

It should be noted that, the aforesaid was expected to become a soil for a discussion at the meeting of the PACE Monitoring Committee held in Paris on 15 December and a document was to be adopted on Azerbaijan on the basis of the report.

Herkel expressed his hope that the report will be ready by the plenary session of PACE to be held in January next year.

Commenting statements made by opposition leaders on being invited to the sitting of the Monitoring Committee during the last visit of the co-rapporteurs to Baku, A.Herkel said that it was his initiative: "However, it was impossible technically to send the invitation. I consider this initiative expedient. It is possible that 5 opposition leaders, me, Gross and Platvoet will attend the sitting of the temporary committee". It should be noted that, the temporary committee of PACE was established before the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan. The committee is led by Leo Platvoet.

Expressing opinion on the issue concerning further accreditation of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE, Herkel noted that, the Monitoring Committee has no right to make such decision, but there were discussions about it. "Though the report was not ready discussions were conducted and the deputies were informed about the problems observed during the parliamentary elections conducted in Azerbaijan," said the co-rapporteur and stated that he will touch once more in his speech the issue of further accreditation of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE at the January session of PACE.

Herkel also made a comment on the re-elections' date set on May 13 saying that there is enough time to form elections commissions, as well as the Central Election Commission on parity. According to Herkel, there will be problems in the elections as long as the composition of all the elections commissions will not be balanced.

Trend