Azerbaijan, Baku, 7 May / corr Trend S.Agayeva / The upcoming presidential elections, due in Azerbaijan in autumn 2008, will show to what extent Azerbaijan is loyal to demcratic values, Jim Murphy, the British Minister for Europe, told journalists in Baku on 7 May.
The UK attaches great importance to the development of democracy in Azerbaijan, whilst the upcoming presidential elections should be held in fair and free conditions to enable the country to develop further in the way of democracy, the minister said.
"Freedom of word is an important basis for democracy and therefore, the country's authorities should attach more attention to this issue," Murphy said.
On 7 May, the British minister discussed with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov democracy and holding of free and transparent elections in Azerbaijan.
"The Azerbaijani authorities assured me that they are interested in providing freedom of word and holding the democratic elections in Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani minister said.
