Azerbaijan, Baku, February 4 /Trend News, E.Huseynli/
Trend News interview with the Head of Public-Political Department of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan, Ali Hasanov.
Trend News: How do You assess the recent report on Azerbaijan of the AGO Group of the Council of Europe?
Ali Hasanov: The relations between the Council of Europe and Azerbaijan, the situation with monitoring the implementation of obligations undertaken by Azerbaijan before the Council of Europe, ties carried out in recent years between various structures of the organization and Azerbaijan in various spheres - legal, practical activities, elections, press and human rights - are quite dynamic. Recently there is a serious constructive spirit here.
You know that the head of the Monitoring Group, which seriously interferes and affects the relationship between the Council of Europe and Azerbaijan, Andreas Gross and many of his associates greatly exacerbated these relations for a long time, directing them towards non-constructive channel. There were subjective moments, approaches, baseless interference of individual forces in the relations. There was interference in national public law of Azerbaijan, which worsened relations. Recently, this practice has been largely eliminated.
Given Azerbaijan's serious attitude towards its commitments, their accurate implementation and considering the requirements of the independent will of the statehood of Azerbaijan, the Council of Europe and its structures in these relations was brought harmony. Therefore, we appreciate and positively approach this report of Ago group on the backdrop of dynamic relations.
Q: The Press Council has declared this year the Year of Defamation. Could this affect the intensification of public debate and lead to adoption of the law on defamation?
A: Probably. In this regard, we cooperate with the OSCE more than with the Council of Europe. As you know, since membership to the Council of Europe and OSCE, Azerbaijan announced that it accepts the freedom of speech, press, political pluralism as an integral part of public life and state-building and is ready to make efforts in this direction. However, the hasty adoption of the law on defamation is impossible. To do this, Azerbaijani society must pay serious attention to this during the preparation. The responsibility of members of society should increase, the principles of respect for the civil rights of people who write and have the capacity to influence the norms of behavior in the society should be formed.
As a whole, norms of responsible behavior and order should be formed in the society. After this, it will be possible to proceed to the adoption of the law. Certainly, the Press Council and other journalist organizations have intensified discussions regarding the defamation. In certain sense, the basis for this was laid by the state. State structures also repeatedly declared that Azerbaijan is ready to adopt the law on defamation. However, the Azerbaijani society should pay special attention to the preparatory phase on the law. As journalists, governmental agencies having information, all people should also get used to the laws derived from the understanding of defamation. The practice of slander against people must be eliminated.
We believe that 2010 could be decisive in this regard. All sides - both international institutions and the media community, Press Council, editor-in-chiefs of Azerbaijani media, as well as government agencies working with the media must make efforts for this purpose.
Q: On the eve of parliamentary elections, opposition parties in Azerbaijan accuse each other of cooperating with the authorities. What is Your attitude towards such accusations, positions?
A: It's natural. On the eve of the elections, parties become activated in other countries. This activation occurs in different directions. The parties discuss who of them is the main opposition, and for what it needs to do this.
I speak openly that the issue of cooperation with the authorities was raised repeatedly. Cooperation with the authorities is a matter of honor for each party. The government is now an institution representing the Azerbaijani state, implementing its domestic and foreign policy. This institution was formed by the people and their will. Therefore, evaluating cooperation with the government formed by the people as almost absolute disgrace does not bring benefits to our opposition. Instead, the opposition ought to look for parties, cooperating with foreign intelligence agencies, foreign anti-Azerbaijani forces and make their accusations on this basis. Since when has the cooperation with the authorities turned to the political parties in a negative factor in the criterion, adversely affecting their credibility?
However, this approach is a relic of the past. This should be abolished, and due to development of society in Azerbaijan, the approximation of domestic institutions to international standards will eliminate such accusations.
Q: The question of nationalization of surnames is of interest to the public. At what stage are the discussions in this regard and will any concept be adopted?
A: It's one of those issues that deserve discussion by the community. The end of names and surnames of each citizen is a national domain. And on the basis of national domain is established technology defining belonging of the nation. In world practice, due to the end of the names, it is possible to define the nationality. It is impossible to define this from some people. In this sense, the question of nationalization of endings of surnames, of course, must be seriously discussed in public.
