ISSUE ON AZERBAIJAN TO BE DISCUSSED IN PACE WINTER SESSION

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 13 2006

The meetings of the Monitoring, Migration, Refugees and Population
and Equal Opportunities for Women and Men committees of the PACE are
held today, APA reports.

The members of delegation of the Azerbaijani parliament to PACE
Aydin Mirzezadeh, Elmira AKhundova and Aydin Abbasov participated
in the meetings. Aydin Mirzezadeh said that the issue on Azerbaijan
was raised at the meeting. But as the co-rapporteur on Azerbaijan
Tony Lloyd and the head of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE Samad
Seyidov did not attend the meeting the discussions are decided to be
held within winter session of PACE. Andres Herkel another co-rapporteur
on Azerbaijan spoke about the processes in Azerbaijan.

Noting that there are some problems concerning the freedom of press
and speech, Andres Herkel welcomed the restart of ANS. Answering his
critical notes concerning Azerbaijan Aydin Abbasov said that chairman
of the Monitoring Committee Edward Lintner was satisfied with the
meetings held in Azerbaijan and his talks with the President.

Participating in the meeting of PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees
and Population Aydin MIrzezadeh said that Leo Platvoet’s report
on missing people in the South Caucasus was discussed there. The
parliamentarian said that some changes were made in the report. Aidin
Mirzezadeh considers Leo Platvoet’s report objective. The occupation
of the Azerbaijani territories and stationing Armenian Armed Forces
in these territories were stressed in the report. Captivity of
about 5000 Azerbaijan citizens was also noted in the report. Aydin
Mirzezadeh also confessed that there are points in the report that
do not satisfy Azerbaijan. He said he rejected these points and noted
that Leo Platvoet’s report will be again discussed at the meeting of
the committee in January next year.