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Azerbaijani parliament adopts peacekeeping bill in second reading

25 December 2009 12:28 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Elbrus Seyfullayev â€“ APA. Azerbaijani parliament adopted a draft law on participation of Azerbaijan in peacekeeping operations in the second reading on Friday. The document was submitted to the parliament by the member of the security and defense committee Sayavush Novruzov, APA reports. â€œSocial protection of the Azerbaijani servicemen participated in the international peacekeeping operations, as well as social privileges and compensations to their families should be regulated by a concrete law. The conceptual importance of the draft law shows that our country needs in forming of legal basis for this sphereâ€.

MP Zahid Oruj said the document contained a provision that Azerbaijan rejects use of force or threat to use of force against any country if it doesnâ€™t face with aggression. â€œFollowing this provision, it notes that first of all Azerbaijan should implement peaceful mechanisms of settlement or mediation during territorial or other disputes and conflicts with other countries. If there is an international or non-international conflict with the involvement of Azerbaijan or Azerbaijani citizens and it requires participation, mediation and interference to end or settle the conflict, Azerbaijan should inform the UN and OSCE about that and accept their mediation, if they offer it. Azerbaijan can ask other countries or international organizations to conduct peacekeeping operations in its territory. I think we have to seriously think over these provisions and determine quote for the participation of peacekeepersâ€.

MP Baba Tagiyev considered it very important to discuss this document. He said Azerbaijanâ€™s participation in defending peace and combating terrorism was very important.

Gudrat Hasanguliyev also urged to attentively approach the issue raised by MP Zahid Oruj and proposed to amend one more provision to the draft law. He said it should contain ban on peacekeeping operations without UN mandate. â€œAdditionally, it should provide only humanitarian assistances until the liberation of Azerbaijani territories from the occupation. We are at war and can not send our soldiers to other placesâ€.

The draft law was adopted in the second reading after the discussions.