DECREES OF AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT ON AMNESTY HIGHLY ESTIMATED
[December 17, 2004, 20:01:34]

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
Dec 17 2004

On December 16, session of the Legal Affairs and human Rights
Committee of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe was held
in Paris. Members of Committee have discussed the project of the
Convention on struggle against financing terrorism, condition of
human rights in Kosovo, execution of the resolution number 1359
connected to prisoners in Azerbaijan, the concept of “nation”,
election of judges in the European Court on human rights and other
questions.

Deputies have noted importance of revealing and attraction to the
responsibility at the international level of persons and the
organizations secretly financing terrorism, and have suggested that
all this has found reflection in the project of the Convention.

At discussion of the question connected to Kosovo, has been
underlined importance of preparation of a special mechanism of the
control over protection of human rights in region.

Participants of session have noted that up to date has not be given
exact definition of concept “nation”, similar and distinctive
features between concepts of “nation” and “people” owing to what in
many accepted documents there is a mess.

The English deputy Malcolm Bruce who has acted with the report on
execution of the resolution number 1359, connected with prisoners in
Azerbaijan, highly has estimated cooperation between the government
of Azerbaijan and the Committee, and also the fact, that on the basis
of three Decrees on pardoning, signed by President Ilham Aliyev this
year, had been released hundreds person.

M. Bruce has noted, that now in the list of persons directed to the
Council of Europe there are people which experts do not recognize as
“political prisoners”, but they are presented by the non-governmental
organizations, names of 10 person are mentioned, has expressed hope
that shortly and they would be released and by that the question on
prisoners in Azerbaijan will be completely solved.

Acted on discussions, MP Gultekin Hajiyeva has positively estimated
cooperation between the government of Azerbaijan and the Rapporteur,
has noted, that from specified in the list of the Council of Europe
of 716 prisoners, now are in custody only 10 person.

Ms. G. Hajiyeva has told: ”In our country, there are no people
arrested on only political reasons. But there are people, which are
to some extent deprived of freedom for concrete criminal actions.
These people are specified in the list of the Council of Europe. On
the basis of Decrees of President Ilham Aliyev on pardoning, the
majority of them have been let out on freedom. The said humane
policy, serving to establishment of reconciliation in the society and
creation of national solidarity between various layers, will be
continued in the years ahead.

Cyprian deputy M. Purgurides presiding at the session who at
discussion of the questions connected both with political prisoners,
and with the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict, for some
reason always takes a prejudiced position, and this time was acted as
earlier. M. Purgurides has told: ”In case that the question of
prisoners in Azerbaijan will not be solved up to the end of year, it
should be discussed at PACE session. However, the Rapporteur and
other members of Committee, resolutely protesting M. Purgurides,
highly have estimated the processes ongoing in Azerbaijan,
cooperation between the Council of Europe and Azerbaijan, have
emphasized confidence that the problem connected to prisoners will be
shortly resolved.

–Boundary_(ID_r8nzB2ppjUJE6S18G3SylA)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress