Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Aug 6 2004
PROSECUTOR GENERAL MEETS PACE DELEGATION
[August 06, 2004, 15:01:23]
PACE co-rapporteurs on Azerbaijan Andreas Gross and Andrea Herkel and
accompanying delegation met on 5 August with Prosecutor General of
Azerbaijan Zakir Garalov.
Prosecutor General first let the guests know that the Azerbaijani
society had appreciated the COE Secretary General Walter Schwimmer’s
statement on illegality of the Armenians intention to hold elections
in Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. Such objective and unbiased
attitude promotes prevention of separatist tendencies not only in
relation to the Armenia-Azerbaijan but also other similar conflicts,
and reflects fair stance and demands of Azerbaijan, as well, he said.
It was mentioned, however, that Armenia, which holds unconstructive
position in peace process, stating on conducting military exercises
in the occupied territories, that complicates the situation in the
region.
Mr. Garalov also touched upon the issues related to honoring by
Azerbaijan its obligations and commitments to the Council of Europe.
He stressed the irreversibility of the political course towards
democracy initiated by national leader of Azerbaijan and founder of
the country’s independent statehood Heydar Aliyev and now being
successfully continued by President Ilham Aliyev. This is what
constitutes the basis for the measures aimed at building civilized,
secular and legal state, the Prosecutor General said.
He especially emphasized that it was continuation, under the
leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, of the reforms in legal sphere
that allowed to create today all the institutes ensuring practically
human right and freedoms in Azerbaijan. Mr. Garalov informed the
guest on measures taken in the country to improve activities of the
prosecutor’s bodies aimed at protection of the human rights and
freedoms.
Speaking of a number of achievements in development of international
relations gained since the meeting with Mr. Andreas Gross held at the
Office of Prosecutor General on May 20 2004, Prosecutor General Zakir
Garalov told of the efforts being taken by President Ilham Aliyev for
Azerbaijan’s integration into European and Euro Atlantic structures.
The guests were also advised of the work done in the Republic to
perform the obligations in the framework of the international
cooperation, including joining the country the European regional
anti-corruption initiatives, presenting the national report to the
Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development.
The Prosecutor General assured them that serious anti-corruption
measures base of the Head of State’s political will would be taken in
Azerbaijan.
In conclusion, Prosecutor General Zakir Garalov especially emphasized
the importance of objective and unbiased assessment of democratic
processes taking place in Azerbaijan for stimulating their further
development.