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Arif Mammadov: â€œThere is no obstacle for free and democratic elections in Azerbaijanâ€

18 July 2008 11:49 (UTC +04:00)

-Venice Commission is dissatisfied with some points of Azerbaijanâ€™s Electoral Code. How will negotiations between Venice Commission and Azerbaijan develop?

-There is no dissatisfaction. Simply some proposals were not accepted because might create confusion. It is normal. Venice Commission gives recommendations to other countries too. Current electoral legislation in Azerbaijan was prepared together with the Venice Commission. Azerbaijan took many proposals into consideration and included them into legislation. Modernization and development are durable processes. Pre-election situation, composition of election commissions and freedom of assembly were discussed during the Venice Commission Secretary Gianni Buqicchioâ€™s visit to Baku. Mr. Buquicchio said despite that they were dissatisfied with some issues generally laws give an opportunity to hold free and democratic elections.

-Can Azerbaijanâ€™s voting right be frozen if the elections donâ€™t meet demands of the Council of Europe?

-There is no obstacle for free and democratic elections in Azerbaijan. Missions of the Council of Europe have also noted it. I state once more that legislation is suitable for democratic elections. There may be some certain problems related to the education work among the people. Some persons want to vote on behalf of their family members and they express dissatisfaction when they are not allowed to do that. Such cases take place mostly in the regions. Democratic development and education of society take time. Europe spent hundreds of years for this process. Besides it there is some interference by the executive authorities into the voting process and during last elections several people were punished for these cases.

-In its resolution on Azerbaijan adopted at the summer session, PACE demands to release three arrested journalists until September. Can the Council of Europe impose sanctions against Azerbaijan if this demand is not met? How the land lies with appointment of rapporteur on political prisoners?

-This is non-binding resolution and there is no question of sanctions. Political power and government can not interfere into the court decisions. This is one of the main principles of democracy. The courts decisions can be appealed. Recently many journalists have been released in appeal order and by the presidential pardoning decree. The issue of rapporteur on political prisoners was on agenda. This issue remains open yet and it was discussed during the PACE Presidentâ€™s visit to Baku. Special rapporteur on political prisoners for South Caucasus Region is proposed to be appointed. Armenian NGOS appealed to PACE and asked appointment of new rapporteur to Armenia. As Azerbaijan, Eugenia Zhivkova and Andres Herkel , members of Monitoring Committee are following the situation in the country. Samad Seyidov noted during discussions at PACE that there is monitoring and co-rapporteurs consider cases of political prisoners. Appointment of new rapporteur can establish additional bureaucracy. There is no need for it. Methinks, PACE Bureau will not support it during session.

-Will CE Fact Finding Mission on cultural monuments in South Caucasus visit the region?

-Visit of Mission has been postponed. It is impossible to carry out visit of Mission in current situation. There are several reasons of it and one of them is linked with tensity in the region and violation of cease-fire every day. We aim to cover visit of mission each three states in the same time, because of closeness of historical-cultural values of South Caucasus. Second purpose is mission should visit Nagorno Karabakh through Azerbaijan and there are several technical problems on it. Azerbaijani side ensures security in the contact frontline for its side, but Armenia not. They want mission to visit Nagorno Karabakh via Armenia and it contradicts our territorial integrity and sovereignty and we should impede it. There will be such terms before further visits.

-Will activity of former CE rapporteur on missing people be continued and by whom?

-It will be continued. Azerbaijan has already submitted all lists. The issue was set up before Armenian delegation and final lists have not been prepared by them. The Council of Europe expects Armenia to make correct list at present.