AZERBAIJANI POLITICIANS’ VIEW ON PACE RESOLUTION – POLL
Azeri Press Agency
June 25 2008
Azerbaijan
Baku. Elnur Mammadli-APA. "The resolution on Azerbaijan adopted in the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is a "road map"
towards the democratization, leader of National Unity Movement Lala
Shovkat told APA. She said that the document covered all problems
concerning democratization.
"But the main thing is whether they will be applied. The requirements
covered by the previous resolutions have not been ensured yet. That’s
why I am not optimistic again," she said.
Lala Shovkat underlined that the Council of Europe had no political
will itself.
"The organization adopts resolution every year, but takes no step
when the commitments are not executed. It shows that oil has become
more expensive, democracy has become cheaper. Normalization of the
situation in Azerbaijan does not depend on the Council of Europe any
more, the society itself should do it," she said.
Chairman of Azerbaijan Democratic Party Sardar Jalaloghlu
also considers that such declarative decisions of international
organizations are of no importance for Azerbaijan. he said that the
Council of Europe had adopted more severe resolutions in connection
with Azerbaijan.
"But these resolutions did not have any influence on the political
situation in Azerbaijan and official Baku’s executing commitments
undertaken upon accession to the organization. In this respect the
next resolution is nothing but an attempt of the council to protect
its image. I think that this resolution will not have an influence
on the political processes either, because the Council of Europe does
not adequately react to the processes in Azerbaijan, does not assess
the situation properly and does not have serious position," he said.
Sardar Jalaloghlu considers that the Council of Europe has no political
will in connection with the development of democracy in Azerbaijan.
Head of the Executive Office of the Musavat Party Arif Hajili
positively appreciated the resolution’s remarks about the freedom of
assembly, composition of election commissions, freedoms of propaganda,
speech and press on TV during the election campaign and arrest of
journalists. "I think it is possible to change the situation in
Azerbaijan just by the expression of such concerns. Azerbaijan
is a member of the Council of Europe and took obligations for
some democratic reforms while entering there. The Council has
not to content with the expression of concerns only and also has
to use more effective measures to achieve the fulfillment of the
obligations". Hajili considers that such measures can create hopes
for the real democratic reforms in Azerbaijan.
Member of the Political Bureau of ruling New Azerbaijan Party (YAP)
and member of the parliament Aydin Mirzazadeh told APA, there are some
positive points in the resolution. "One of the positive points in the
resolution relates to Nagorno Karabakh. Indeed solution to the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict has a certain impact on the development of democracy
in the country. Despite all Armenian efforts, the issue of occupied
lands was included in the resolution. For the first time, non-solution
of the Nagorno Karabakh problem is shown as a factor created serious
problem for the development of democracy. Undoubtedly occupation of
our lands and existence of one million refugees tackle our society to
reach desirable democracy". The member of the parliament said there
were some subjective points decided without the fact-finding of some
issues. "I don’t consider it correct to include the names of five
persons in the list and to demand their release. The international
organization can’t demand something from the country, it can make
only recommendations. On the other hand, if they were convicted on
the basis of national legislation, they can’t be released on someone’s
demands. There is a legal proceeding for that and it needs to pass all
these phases. Naming them as a political prisoner without any grounds
shows that the Council of Europe has quite enough problems in this
field". Mirzazadeh said there were supporters of Azerbaijan’s efforts
for the development of democracy and those who condemned Baku without
deep knowledge about the situation during the discussions in PACE.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
