Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 23 2006

European, Azeri officials mull Garabagh conflict, elections

Baku, March 22, AssA-Irada

The Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict was in focus
during the talks between Azeri officials and the European
representatives in Baku on Wednesday.
The deputy chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Eduard Lintner,
and a European Union expert Werner Munch met with the Ministers of
Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov, Justice Fikrat Mammadov and
Prosecutor General Zakir Garalov.
Lintner said the European representatives and Minister Mammadyarov
shared the views on the issue. `We arrived at a conclusion that first
of all, refugees must return home and the Council of Europe
principles enforced.’
The discussions also centered on the preparations for the May 13
repeat polls in 10 constituencies where the results of the 2005
parliament poll were cancelled, as well as energy-related matters.
`We comprehensively discussed a number of issues, including the
energy situation, which is intensely watched in Europe.’
On the same day, the European visitors were to meet with parliament
speaker Ogtay Asadov and the chairman of the country’s senior
electoral body, the Central Election Commission, Mazahir Panahov, to
discuss repeat polls and the human rights situation in Azerbaijan.
The PACE committee deputy chairman Lintner is also expected to visit
penitentiaries to study the conditions provided for inmates.*