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European Parliament debates on freedom of speech in Azerbaijan

17 December 2009 17:38 (UTC +04:00)

Strasbourg. Fouad Gulubeyli â€“ APA. The European Parliament held extraordinary discussions on legal state, democracy and human rights according to 122nd article of its domestic charter. Its agenda included situation in the West Sahara and Uganda, as well as freedom of speech in Azerbaijan as well, APA correspondent reports from Strasbourg.

The issue of freedom of speech in Azerbaijan was included in agenda on the initiative of the members of European Popular Party and six other groups represented at the European Parliament. Member of the European Liberal-Democratic Alliance Group Ms. Chaake Mariyetge emphasized the discussion of the issue related to the arrest of Azerbaijani bloggers taken the recent statements by the European organizations into consideration. Members of the European Parliament, who addressed the issue, said that the situation of freedom of press and freedom of speech in Azerbaijan is not heartwarming and called on the Azerbaijani government to make positive steps toward this issue.
Representatives of Azerbaijan to the European Union also attended the debates.