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Head of Azerbaijani delegation to PACE criticizes assemblyâ€™s activity

24 June 2009 18:12 (UTC +04:00)

The report has been made by chairman of PACE Monitoring Committee Serhiy Holovaty (Ukraine).

Prior to discussion of the theme, Claudio Cordone, Senior Director of Research and Regional Programmes at Amnesty International’s International Secretariat and Holly Cartner, Director for Europe and Central Asia, Human Rights Watch addressed the assembly and presented the organizationsâ€™ reports on the state of human rights in 2009.

They spoke about the state of human rights in Azerbaijan, and generally in the South Caucasus. Following this, discussions began concerning the report.

Head of Azerbaijani delegation to PACE Samad Seyidov also made speech during the discussions. According to Samad Seyidov CE member states face difficulties in the field of fundamental values and democracy.
â€œAzerbaijan is the only country which analyses the problems by demonstrating a different approach and appointing rapporteur. I particularly want to mention the appointment of the rapporteur for political prisoners. There are countries where one can not even say the word political prisoner. Instead they use â€œpersons deprived of freedomâ€. Partiality is observed here. It casts shadow on the legitimacy of the work done. As regards Azerbaijan, such cases are often observed. This time amendments to the law on NGOs are being spoken about. These amendments have not been made. These are simply rumors in the PACE. The Assembly immediately reacted to it. This damages the relations between Azerbaijan and PACE,â€ he said.

Seyidov noted that all expressed positions should be taken into consideration whilst speaking about democracy. All posts within PACE should meet the rotation principles: â€œBoth chairman and commission chairs are elected for certain terms, but rapporteurs hold these posts for long terms. These rapporteurs prepare positive reports about the countries they have good relations. Otherwise, we face the reports with very critical and different approach. On the other hand, geopolitical realities, including the geopolitical realities of the Caucasus should be taken into consideration as well. We urge the member countries to follow the democracy and human rights.

We should conduct a monitoring on our organization. Our organization does nothing, but uses words. We even saw it in the lection of the Secretary General. Same approach should be towards all the countries violating human rights and democratic values. Double standards are inadmissible. However, this report is full of preconceived pointsâ€.

Seyidov stated that the words of â€œpolitical oppositionists in Armeniaâ€ instead of â€œpolitical prisonerâ€ were used in the 8th article of the report, though those people were arrested for their participation in the political demonstrations and for their political relations:
â€œHowever the 10th article reads about political prisoners in Azerbaijan and PACe demands to conduct special investigation in Azerbaijan. The same attitude was also shown to Turkey in the report. The authors of the reports do not have clear thoughtsâ€.

British parliamentary Mike Hancock delivered a speech and supported Seyidovâ€™s thoughts. He stressed the importance of conducting a monitoring within PACE.