Foreign

Home page

Foreign

Adam Sterling: â€œThe US is ready to render support to Azerbaijan for further improvement of situation in human rights sphereâ€ - PHOTOSESSION

Adam Sterling: â€œThe US is ready to render support to Azerbaijan for further improvement of situation in human rights sphereâ€ - <font color=red>PHOTOSESSION</font>

11 July 2012 14:30 (UTC +04:00)

APA reports that participants at the roundtable discussed human rights in Azerbaijan, including press freedom, rule of law, property rights and etc. Human right defenders Novella Jafaroglu, Arzu Abdullayeva and Saida Gojamanli attended the meeting.

Sterling said that the human rights was and would remain a foreign policy priority for the United States: â€œA free press, active civil society, and the rule of law are integral parts of any democracy. We will continue to work with our partners in the Azerbaijani government, press and civil society to strengthen respect for human rights in Azerbaijanâ€.

The diplomat told APA that among the issues in the 2011 report, three received special attention: â€œFirst are of concern in 2011 involved restrictions on the freedom of assembly and expression. Second, the judicial system continued to suffer from numerous problems. The third area of concern is property rights violations, including numerous forced evictions and demolition of homesâ€.

Sterling noted the positive changes in the country in human rights sphere. He welcomed the release of 9 persons detained during April 2 rally: â€œIt has given us all reasons for optimism. I want to reiterate our calls for a fair and transparent judicial process for those that remain in jail, including Vidadi Iskandarli and Shahin Hasanliâ€.

He said that the US embassy follows closely the arrest of those involved in march protests in Guba, the arrest of Sabirabad activists Ogtay Gulaliyev and Ilham Amiraslanov, as well as Hilal Mammadov and pending charges against photo-blogger Mehman Huseynov. He also called for progress in the investigation on beating of journalist Idrak Abbasov, murder of Rafig Taghi and case of Khadija Ismayilova.