AZERBAIJANI AUTHORITIES TO RESTRICT OSCE MISSION IN BAKU

19:15, 18 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS: On March 14 the OSCE Permanent
Representative to Vienna, Harry Robins, made a statement at a meeting
of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, and announced Azerbaijani
plans to restrict the OSCE mission in Baku. As reports Armenpress,
referring to Turan, source in the OSCE reported.

“We note the request by the Government of Azerbaijan to change the
mandate of the OSCE Office in Baku. The current mandate of the Office
in Baku, which was renewed at the beginning of 2013, charges it to
“promote the implementation of OSCE principles and commitments in
all OSCE dimensions, including the human, political, economic and
environmental aspects of security and stability.”

“The OSCE Office in Baku performs critical capacity-building and
assistance tasks in Azerbaijan. We agree that important progress has
been made, but also believe that this mission and mandate continue to
play an important role in helping Azerbaijan to develop its democratic
institutions. We believe it is in the best interest of the Government
of Azerbaijan to continue in good faith and respect the terms of the
agreed mandate. The United States values its close cooperation with
the Government of Azerbaijan in helping to build a strong democracy
supported by a vibrant civil society,” Robins noted.

The official Baku has not yet commented on this statement and the
authorities did not report about such treatment in the OSCE. However,
according to diplomatic sources, the talk is about the lowering of
the status of the OSCE mission to the level of Coordinator of projects.

The most important change is that the Coordinator of projects should
agree all projects with the Azerbaijani authorities, and should
realize them only with the consent of official Baku.

“According to unofficial information, the government wants to reduce
the staff of the mission and to restrict its powers. Above all,
these restrictions are on the OSCE mission to carry out actions to
respond to the events and processes related to elections, violations
of human rights and democracy.

In an election year it could mean no-entry of ODIHR observers to the
country,” Turan concluded.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress