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CE Secretary General: Azerbaijan is in right direction in establishing human rights (UPDATE)

Politics Materials 5 June 2010 13:50 (UTC +04:00)
Azerbaijan is in the right direction in establishing human rights, despite some problems, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland said.
CE Secretary General: Azerbaijan is in right direction in establishing human rights (UPDATE)

Editor's note: three last paragraphs have been added

Italy, Venice, June 5 / Trend special corr. I. Kashchey /

Azerbaijan is in the right direction in establishing human rights, despite some problems, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland said.

"In regard to Azerbaijan, it seems, and we hope, that it moves in the right direction in establishing human rights, although there are some problems," Jagland said.

The upcoming parliamentary elections will be a serious challenge for Azerbaijan, Secretary General said.

"They, of course, will be held under broader international supervision. It is important to understand that we as a Council of Europe, do not interfere in the elections and do not take anyone's side. We only help in the conduct of open and free elections," Jagland said.

The Venice Commission, which has great significance in the world in regard to amending the constitution and the development of new constitutional provisions, today celebrates the 20-th anniversary of the date of creation.

The Commission will always work in this direction as the process of establishing the democracy has no end, Jagland said. 

The parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan will be held in the first week of November. According to the submitted lists, the number of resident voters hits 4,829 people, the CEC secretary Natiq Mammadov said.

Speaking on the resolution of Azerbaijani pressing problem - Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the General Secretary said that the OSCE Minsk Group can resolve it, and the Venice Commission can only give advice, if a request is made, he said.

Under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by Russia, France and the U.S. peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia have been held since May 1994 when the sides reached a cease-fire regime. As a result of territorial claims by Armenia against Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent districts - 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory are under occupation.

"The Council of Europe has never resorted to pressure on its members. The only thing it can advise is to refrain from the rhetoric and actions that may aggravate the situation", Jagland said.

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