US Helsinki Commission marks inaccuracy in information on hearing related to Azerbaijan

"There is some groundless information that the US Helsinki Commission is to hold hearing concerning Azerbaijan set for July 29 under the recommendation of Eldar Namazov, the chief of Public Forum for Azerbaijan", US Helsinki Commission press secretary Lale Mamaux told APA’s US bureau.

The official stated that the commission doesn’t consider any recommendation. Mamaux mentioned that the US Helsinki Commission had decided to hold hearing on Human Rights and Democratization in Azerbaijan beforehand.

"The hearing is scheduled to be held before the presidential elations in Azerbaijan. Besides, US Congress members are going on vocation in late September, and get ready for the 111th elections. It will be followed by the US presidential elations in November. Taking into consideration the increasing level in politics, Helsinki Commission has found it more considerable to hold hearing before the presidential elections in Azerbaijan", she added.

Mamaux also touched upon Namazov’s talks about the reason and intention of the hearing. She noted that Namazov had met with officials in the Helsinki Commission while visiting the US. Nevertheless, Mamaux stated that the commission had informed the US embassy in Azerbaijan about its intention to hold hearing related to the country before his visit to the US.

Namazov told the local press that during his visit to the US, he had submitted a written recommendation to the commission which underlined the necessity to hold a special hearing at the eve of presidential elections in Azerbaijan. As a result, most media has spread information that the Helsinki Commission is to hold hearing next week under Namazov’s recommendation.

Congressman Alcee L. Hastings, Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, and Co-Chairman Senator Benjamin L. Cardin will lead a hearing scheduled for July 29. David Kramer , Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Yashar Aliev, Ambassador, Republic of Azerbaijan, Chris Walker, Director of Studies, Freedom House are to attend the event as witnesses.

/APA/

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