France, Strasburg / Trend corr. E.Mammadov, I.Alizadeh / Azerbaijan does not believe that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will appoint a new co-rapporteur to Azerbaijan on political prisoners, MP Samad Seyyidov, the head of the Azerbaijani Delegation to the PACE, said in Strasburg on 2 October.
"It is difficult to believe that PACE would appoint a new co-rapporteur on political prisoners to Azerbaijan. The Task Group consisting from representatives of the Azerbaijani government, Parliament and NGOs carry out work in this direction.
PACE President Rene van der Linden said to journalists that a new co-rapporteur on political prisoners would be appointed to Azerbaijan. PACE feels anxiety due to arrest of journalists and political prisoners in Azerbaijan. It is an acceptable fact for the Council of Europe, the PACE president said.
The co-rapporteur on political prisoners was appointed to Azerbaijan in 2001. Azerbaijani citizen were able to protest the resolutions made by local courts and the European Court on human rights.
Azerbaijani human right activists consider the issue concerning political prisoners remains unsolved. The country needs the co-rapporteur to deal with the political prisoners. The list including 71 people was submitted to the Council of Europe.