PACE wants concessions from Azerbaijan to accept Baku backApril 19, 2024 - 13:21 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - PACE co-rapporteur on Azerbaijan, Norwegian MP Lise Christoffersen has said that Azerbaijani authorities must make certain concessions and fulfill a number of requirements so that the country can return to PACE. In late January, PACE has effectively suspended Azerbaijan’s membership in the Strasbourg-based legislative body, citing, among other things, last September’s Azerbaijani military offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh. Asked about the concessions, Сristoffersen said that "the Azerbaijani authorities must co-operate with the Assembly and create conditions for the co-rapporteurs to work in the country without hindrance, including prison visits. Azerbaijan must also fulfill its human rights obligations, Turan reports. When the Co-Rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee were in Azerbaijan from 3-7 June last year, they were not allowed to visit political prisoners. Cristoffersen pointed out that although the Minister of Justice of Azerbaijan promised that they would be given such an opportunity during their next visit, they were not allowed there again on 20-21 November. The prohibition of the Monitoring Committee's co-rapporteurs to work freely in Azerbaijan and the non-admission of other PACE rapporteurs Hannah Bardell and Paul Havana to the country became the reason for depriving the Azerbaijani delegation of the right to vote at the January 2024 PACE session. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Ucom Celebrates Telecommunication Day May 17 commemorates the founding of the International Telecommunication Union on May 17, 1865. Armenian, Azerbaijani heads of parliament meet in Switzerland President of the Armenian parliament Alen Simonyan met with the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova. Border residents overnight on highway to protest Armenia’s Residents of Kirants continue to express outrage over the government’s decision to cede land to Azerbaijan. Get Started: An educational platform for young startuppers The Get Started program which operates in two phases is an important platform for young startuppers. |