Azerbaijan, Baku, November 23 /Trend, I.Huseynov/
The Parliamentary Assembly's two co-rapporteurs for the monitoring of Azerbaijan, Pedro Agramunt (Spain, EPP/CD) and Joseph Debono Grech (Malta, SOC) intend to make their next visit in the framework of the Assembly's monitoring procedure in the first half of February 2011, the official website of PACE reported.
When joining the Council of Europe in 2001, Azerbaijan has undertaken a number of commitments. The Monitoring Committee monitors their implementation.
Also the co-rapporteurs have welcomed the release by the Azerbaijani authorities of the two bloggers Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli.
Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli were arrested on July 8, 2009 after an incident in a restaurant in Baku. They were accused in hooliganism. Milli was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison and Hajizade to two years in prison.
Salyan Regional Court has ordered last Friday to release blogger Emin Milli after serving more than half of a prison term handed to him for accusation in hooliganism. Adnan Hajizade was released too on Thursday.
"This is an important step forward and a clear sign that the Azerbaijani authorities are willing to resolve the issues that have hindered their co-operation with the Council of Europe. We hope that we can soon welcome further progress on other outstanding issues," they said.
PACE monitoring co-rapporteurs to visit Baku in February 2011
The Parliamentary Assembly’s two co-rapporteurs for the monitoring of Azerbaijan, Pedro Agramunt (Spain, EPP/CD) and Joseph Debono Grech (Malta, SOC) intend to make their next visit in the framework of the Assembly’s monitoring procedure in the first half of February 2011, the official website of PACE reported.
