Chingiz Asadov, the Chief of Sector at the Azerbaijani President's Apparat, briefed the media that a working group comprised of representatives of the Azerbaijani Government, Baku Office of the OSCE and experts of the Venice Commission, has been established, Trend reports.
He noted that the Law on Freedom of Assembly was adopted in 1998 and was agreed with the OSCE experts. While devising the law, they utilized the legislative acts of Austria and the U.K. but the law is still in need of improvement. Therefore, the Azerbaijani Government appealed to the Venice Commission in April 2006 and now is awaiting appropriate recommendations.
Asgarov added that the OSCE intends to participate in the proceedings. Yesterday's [19 September] discussions specified the law as normal, although there are shortfalls in its implementation. In addition, some items of the law do not meet the necessary standards, he stressed.
Asgarov stated that the Azerbaijani Government is taking all necessary measures in this respect. In turn the Venice Commission will organize debates on the issue at its next plenary session due in October and present its proposals to Azerbaijan.