ALI HASANOV: PARDON OF IMPRISONED JOURNALISTS IS UNDER QUESTION

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
July 17 2007

To our regret, journalists have not yet appealed themselves regarding
their pardoning. It means that the journalists do not confess their
faults yet. These journalists do not regard insulting several persons
as preferring themselves higher than human rights. Therefore pardon
of imprisoned journalists is under question, the head of President’s
Office’s socio-political department Ali Hasanov told the APA.

The department head commenting on Press Council’s appeal on pardoning
journalists said that according to the pardoning procedure, civilian
or his family members should appeal to Pardon Commission. After the
members of the commission comment positively on this issue, their
appeal will be sent to the head of the state. Senior official stressed
that only the head of the state has authority to issue pardon decree.

"But the ongoing processes show that the pardon of these people and
their choosing right way is questionable. If the procedure regarding
pardoning is not held, this will be impossible. Therefore, we can
not say anything today. This issue is remaining theme of the debate,"
he said.

The department head also touched on the debates they held with the
executive director of Human Rights Watch Kenneth Roth.

Hasanov said that the issues Mr.Roth raised, gives no ground to say
that the media condition in Azerbaijan is bad.

"I did not feel any tendency in his speech. Mr. Roth’s concern
is connected with not adopting defamation law, and punishment of
journalists for insulting, libeling different persons.

He was told that Azerbaijan is a state where there is rule of law
is ensured and courts are independent. Everyone has the right to
appeal to court and no one can deprive him/her of this right. Arrest
of seven journalists does not mean that media is exerted pressure in
Azerbaijan. It means that Azerbaijani journalists are not professional
enough. There are journalists who insult honor and dignity which
results in trial," he said.

The state official said that the other issue raised by Kenneth Roth
was connected with tortures in Azerbaijan.

"He concerned himself with the activities carried out in this field
since 2003 in Azerbaijan," he said.

Ali Hasanov said they gave detailed information about it to the
visitor. The department chief said they told the executive director
that Azerbaijan joined four international conventions against torture,
legislative acts were adopted in Azerbaijan on the implementation
of these conventions, some laws were amended and state program on
protection of human rights was adopted by the president’s executive
order.

"We made a remark him that Human Rights Watch does not include in
its reports the issues on violation of human rights of about one
million IDPs from Nagorno Karabakh. We also said that this factor was
not mentioned while assessing Armenian government’s attitude towards
human rights. He confessed it, and promised to take this factor into
consideration in future," he said.

Ali Hasanov said that Kenneth Roth’s statement that head of President’s
Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev will appeal to the President for
pardoning the imprisoned journalists was misunderstanding during
interpretation.

"Ramiz Mehdiyev said that if the imprisoned journalists appeal
to the Pardon Commission, their appeal will be considered. If the
commission members pass a decision on their release, the decision
will be presented to the President. We had to refute Kenneth Roth’s
statement," he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress