Azerbaijan, Baku, 25 September / Trend corr. K.Zarbaliyeva / Legal cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan were discussed at a meeting of both countries' Justice Ministers in Baku on 25 September.
Turkish Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Shahin's official visit to Azerbaijan began on 25 September. The visit, which will last by 27 September, was paid at the Azerbaijani Justice Minister Fikrat Mammadov's official invitation.
The Turkish delegation led by Shahin held a meeting at the Azerbaijani Ministry of Justice on 25 September.
Mammadov made a report to the Turkish guests on juridical and legal reforms, history and activity of justice bodies in Azerbaijan at the meeting.
The Azerbaijani and Turkish Justice Ministers signed a cooperation protocol in 2001 and a contract on "Legal aid on civil, family and crime affairs" in 2002, Mammadov said, stressing presence of a rich legal base between Turkey and Azerbaijan.
"The current penitentiary institutions in Azerbaijan do not meet the European standards. Therefore, we have begun to construct new institutions and study the Turkish experience in this field to apply it during the construction," Mammadov said. About 20,000 prisoners (13,000 of them serve at the confined institutions) serve their punishment in Azerbaijan, he said.
The meeting focused on exchange of opinion on extradition of the Azerbaijani and Turkish citizens, who serve their punishments in these countries, implementation of courts' decisions, court activity and judges' work schedule.
The Turkish Minister spoke about activity of justice bodies in his country.
The visit will enable to strengthen cooperation between the Azerbaijani and Turkish Justice Ministries.
The Turkish delegation is expected to get familiarization with prisons and hold a meeting at the Juridical and Legal Council during the visit.
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