Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 20/ Trend , J. Babayeva/
Azerbaijan said the Council of Europe should not be concerned with the proposed Constitutional amendments on journalistic activity.
"In March 2008, the Venice Commission said the amendments meet European standards," Azerbaijani parliament's Legislation Department head and Azerbaijani representative to the Venice Commission Latif Huseynov said at a meeting on the National Action Plan on Human Rights in Azerbaijan on Feb. 20.
Azerbaijan will hold a referendum vote to amend the Constitution on March 18.
Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis said earlier that he is concerned with the Constitutional amendments on journalistic activity.
Article 32 (Right to Personal Immunity) stipulates that every person has the right to a confidential personal and family life. One cannot interfere with another's personal life with exceptions envisaged by the law.
The following amendments are proposed: Every person has the right to protect his/her personal and family life from illegal interference. One cannot gather, keep, use and disseminate information about someone's personal life without permission. No one can be videotaped, photographed or recorded without permission with exceptions envisaged by the law.
The fifth item is proposed to be added to the article: Every person has the right to become familiar with the information gathered about him/her with exceptions envisaged by the law. Every person has the right to remove inaccurate information about him/her which has been obtained in illegal ways.
Huseynov said the amendments to the Constitution do not contradict European standards.
"Exceptions also exist. Therefore there is no need for concern. Azerbaijan will be guided by international standards if amendments are made to the Constitution. This is a key principle of our legislation," Huseynov said.
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