December 19, 2001 - 22:29 AMT
BAKU OPPOSITION MAINTAINS AZERBAIJAN MAY BE EXPELLED FROM CE
Azerbaijan parliamentary opposition united into the so-called "Demblock" considered the question of fulfilling the obligations undertaken by the country when entering the Council of Europe. The declaration adopted after the discussion says the results of the research held do not arouse optimism. The parliamentary opposition considers the state of affairs in the sphere of realization of the commitments "can become a ground for international sanctions." Depriving Azerbaijan of the mandate of the full member of this influential organization is the point. The question of expelling Azerbaijan from the Council of Europe can already be decided early next year. As it is known the results of the year's monitoring on meeting the commitments undertaken by Azerbaijan will be considered in Strasbourg at the turn of January. In this regard Baku "Zerkalo" newspaper writes "loss of the mandate in the Council of Europe will deprive Azerbaijan of the most important tribune, including for the Karabakh question." "Do we have a right to renounce this tribune?" - the newspaper asks.