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Baku hosts international conference â€œProtection of political rights in Azerbaijan-new criterionsâ€

07 April 2008 11:48 (UTC +04:00)

More than 70 experts form 27 countries, MPs of PACE and OSCE and EU participate in the conference. Vice-Speaker of MM Ziyafat Asgarov addressing the event stated that realization of political rights and freedoms was very important in Azerbaijan and considerable measures had been taken in this direction. Asgarov stated that Azerbaijan had joined all international pacts in this field. Ms. Katrin Saks, member of European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs and Subcommittee on Human Rights delivered a speech on the subject of â€œEuropean Union between economic interests and main valuesâ€. She stated that the European Parliament had appealed to the Government on problems in the field of Human Rights, violence by police, Mass Media problems. Saks added that the European countries were far from ideal situation on Human Rights and added that there were a lot of measures, which should be taken in EU member countries in this direction. Ali Hasanov, chief of Sociopolitical Department of Presidentâ€™s Office made a report on protection of political rights in Azerbaijan and noted that Azerbaijan had taken important steps in this field. He stated that 52 political parties, more than 3500 NGOs and social organizations, more than 50 electronic Mass Media and agencies, more than 1000 press organizations had been functioning in Azerbaijan. Hasanov added that Azerbaijani Government ensured freedom of speech and press in the country and developed it. Samad Seyidov, head of Azerbaijani delegation to PACE noted that Azerbaijani Parliament would consider amendments to the law on Electoral Code and freedom of assembly. He added that amendments would ensure democratic presidential elections. International conference will continue tomorrow.