OMBUDSMEN OF BSEC GATHER IN ISTANBUL

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
April 27 2006

Ombudsmen of the Organization of Black Sea Economic Cooperation
(BSEC) have gathered in Istanbul, Turkey, to discuss role of ombudsman
institution in strengthening democracy.

The two-day conference organized with the assistance of the
Parliamentary Assembly of BSEC started on April 26.

Addressing the meeting, former Turkish President Suleyman Demirel
expressed hope that ombudsmen would contribute to bring peace and
stability to the region.

Human rights commissioner of Azerbaijan Mrs. Elmira Suleymanova spoke
of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

She said over one million Azerbaijani nationals were forced to flee
their homelands and became refugees or internally displaced persons
(IDP) in result of 18-years long Armenian aggression.

Mrs. Suleymanova also called on all the human rights defenders to step
up their efforts to help Azerbaijani refugees return to their homes.

The conference will last until April 27.