RIGHTS DEFENDERS APPRAISE DEBATES ON AZERBAIJAN IN PACE
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 17 2007
"Debates on Azerbaijan in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe (PACE) can be regarded as the victory of Azerbaijan and
Azerbaijani rights defenders," human rights defender Saida Gojamanli
told the APA correspondent accredited in the Council of Europe.
She highly appreciated the solidarity demonstrated for common
interests.
"Nagorno Karabakh was the main issue, issue on appointing special
representative on political prisoners in Azerbaijan was not on focus
and amendment to the report suggested by Armenia was not approved,"
she said.
Saida Gojamanli said that human rights defenders left for Strasbourg
to attend the PACE spring session will have meeting with Ago group.
The rights defenders are also expected to meet with Lord
Russell-Johnston and Andreas Gross, former co-rapporteur of the
monitoring committee for Azerbaijan.
Eldar Namazov, president of Public Forum for Azerbaijan told the APA it
is welcoming that despite Armenian delegation’s protest, the principle
points on Nagorno Karabakh were not removed from the co-rapporteurs’
report. He said that three or four amendments were made to the report
according to Azerbaijan’s inquiry. These amendments were connected
with improving Electoral Code and activity of Public Television.
Members of Azerbaijani delegation to PACE did not make any statements
to the media on the debates.