Thorbjorn Jagland calls on Azerbaijan to respect obligations to CoEMarch 23, 2011 - 12:16 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - In a letter to President Aliyev of Azerbaijan, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland expressed his concerns about the respect for the pluralism of political debate, freedom of expression, and freedom of association in the country. “Several developments are causing concern with regard to the commitments and obligations in the fields of the protection and promotion of human rights, pluralist democracy and the rule of law Azerbaijan subscribed to on becoming a member state of the Council of Europe,” Mr. Jagland said. The Secretary General called for a change to the very restrictive approach to the freedom of Assembly, following the number of recent arrests prior to the demonstrations held in Baku on 11 and 12 March. He also expressed his disappointment at the continued failure of the Azerbaijan authorities to implement the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights and to look at all the possibilities to end the detention of the imprisoned editor Mr Eynulla Fatullayev. The Secretary General reiterated the offer to help the Azerbaijan authorities to bring the legislation and the administrative and judicial practices in protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms to the level expected from a member State of the Council of Europe. He also expressed his willingness to visit Baku and discuss these issues with President Aliyev and his administration, the CoE said on its website. 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 | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |