January 8, 2002 - 23:00 AMT
BAKU COMMENTATORS THINK EUROPEAN COUNCIL TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS AGAINST AZERBAIJAN
Today in Paris the committee of the Parliamentarian Assembly of the Council of Europe started the consideration of the issue on political prisoners in Azerbaijan. The consideration lasted for eight hours. According to the leader of the permanent parliamentarian delegation of Azerbaijan to the PACE Samid Seidov, «the discussion was held in tense situation». The discussions will be continued in the PACE Bureau. As it is known, January 24 the issue on the political prisoners in Azerbaijan will be included in the agenda of the PACE session. Earlier the PACE representatives stated that if Azerbaijan fulfilled its obligation, the consideration of this issue would be possible to avoid. But as it is known, Baku ignored its promises to release the political prisoners. So «Turan» agency commentators think, January 24 PACE will officially condemn Azerbaijan's government and will impose sanctions.