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Senator Jean-Claude Frecon: â€œIn contrast to my counterparts in Senat, I would not pay a visit to the region which is officially Azerbaijanâ€™s territory but occupied by Armeniaâ€

30 October 2010 08:59 (UTC +04:00)

Strassburg. Fuad Gulubayli â€“ APA. New chairman of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Senator of Loire region Jean Claude Freconâ€™s interview to APA.

- New chairman of Congress, as well as new chairmen of both chambers of organization were elected at the 19th session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. You was also elected the chairman of Chamber of Local and Regional Authorities. Does the Congress plan to realize any special program for Southern Caucasus Countries during the next 2 years?

- Weâ€™ll operate on the general priorities defined by Congress. We accepted our priorities and new working mechanisms at the 19th session of Congress in European Council. After this weâ€™ll pay more attention our monitoring process of member-states on the compliance with the main document of Congress Charter of Local Self-Government. The democracy at the local level, empowering to local authorities and allocation of means to them for increasing of practice are paid attentions in the charter. Besides, one of the main issues to pay attention is to conduct the democratic elections. Itâ€™s necessary to achieve the democratic conducting of municipal and local self-government election. Most of these problems have already been solved in the countries having old democratic traditions. Even, old democracies have such problems and no countries reached the peak of the democracy. All countries must pay attention to the development of democracy. About Azerbaijan, I must note that Iâ€™ve been here for 7 times and know your country well. We try the election to be held democratic. The municipality must have power for participating of electors actively. Thatâ€™s why the government must increase the powers of municipality. It would be better drafting of bill on the principle of subsidiarity. It means, central government must allocate financial means to the local authorities. This is an important problem. Iâ€™ll visit Azerbaijan in 2011 again and share my opinions with my counterparts.

- Mr, Frecon, you are also senator of France. How do you see the visit of your counterparts in senate to Nagorno Karabakh Territory through Armenia?

- I had not any information about this before and during the visit. Iâ€™d make a comment if I knew about their visit. I would not pay a visit to the region which is officially Azerbaijanâ€™s territory but occupied by Armenia. This is no a good principle. I support the OSCE Minsk Group. This is the duty of this group, co-chairs, diplomats but not senators.

- But, there are many MPs supporting the Armenians in French National Assembly and Senate. They can influence on the French political elite. What do you think about this?

- As you know, many Armenians live in France. They live in France for a long time and the representatives of 3rd and 4th generation. The number of Armenians in France is more than Azerbaijanis. But, I must note that the main issue in approaching to any problem is not majority, but respecting to the rule of law. Azerbaijan and Armenia have to meet and come to an agreement to solve the problem. After the meeting of both presidents they must deliver the decision adopted by them to the population.