NATO PA: NUMBER OF RELIGIOUS-RADICAL GROUPS INCREASES IN AZERBAIJAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.05.2007 16:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ NATO PA (Parliamentary Assembly) Committee for
Civil Security Measures held hearings on the subject entitled "State
and Religion in Black Sea Region". In his report on Azerbaijan Dutch
deputy Bert Middel criticized Caucasian Muslims Office, underlining
corruptibility of that structure. The report also informed that there
exists a conflict between the State Committee on Works with Religious
Structures and the above-mentioned organization. It underlines that
the number of religious-radical groups increases in Azerbaijan.

The NATO PA Committee also discussed issues concerning the protection
of "critical infrastructures".

According to rapporteur from Great Britain lord Joplikin, existence of
"frozen conflicts" continues to create threats for oil pipelines. "Some
countries do not want existence of alternative oil and gas pipelines
at all. Any time they can activate existing conflicts, which will
result in destruction of infrastructure," he underlined," Baku based
Zerkalo newspaper reports.

The spring session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly was held in
Madeira Island (Portugal) May 25-29.