ARIF MAMMADOV: "THERE IS NO OBSTACLE FOR FREE AND DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS IN AZERBAIJAN"
Azeri Press Agency
July 18 2008
Azerbaijan
Baku. Turan Huseynova -APA. Head of the Azerbaijan’s permanent mission
to Council of Europe Ambassador Arif Mammadov gives an interview
to APA.
-Venice Commission is dissatisfied with some points of Azerbaijan’s
Electoral Code. How will negotiations between Venice Commission and
Azerbaijan develop?
-There is no dissatisfaction. Simply some proposals were not accepted
because might create confusion. It is normal. Venice Commission
gives recommendations to other countries too. Current electoral
legislation in Azerbaijan was prepared together with the Venice
Commission. Azerbaijan took many proposals into consideration and
included them into legislation. Modernization and development are
durable processes. Pre-election situation, composition of election
commissions and freedom of assembly were discussed during the Venice
Commission Secretary Gianni Buqicchio’s visit to Baku. Mr. Buquicchio
said despite that they were dissatisfied with some issues generally
laws give an opportunity to hold free and democratic elections.
-Can Azerbaijan’s voting right be frozen if the elections don’t meet
demands of the Council of Europe?
-There is no obstacle for free and democratic elections in
Azerbaijan. Missions of the Council of Europe have also noted
it. I state once more that legislation is suitable for democratic
elections. There may be some certain problems related to the
education work among the people. Some persons want to vote on behalf
of their family members and they express dissatisfaction when
they are not allowed to do that. Such cases take place mostly in
the regions. Democratic development and education of society take
time. Europe spent hundreds of years for this process. Besides it
there is some interference by the executive authorities into the
voting process and during last elections several people were punished
for these cases.
-In its resolution on Azerbaijan adopted at the summer session, PACE
demands to release three arrested journalists until September. Can
the Council of Europe impose sanctions against Azerbaijan if this
demand is not met? How the land lies with appointment of rapporteur
on political prisoners?
-This is non-binding resolution and there is no question of
sanctions. Political power and government can not interfere into the
court decisions. This is one of the main principles of democracy. The
courts decisions can be appealed. Recently many journalists have been
released in appeal order and by the presidential pardoning decree. The
issue of rapporteur on political prisoners was on agenda. This issue
remains open yet and it was discussed during the PACE President’s
visit to Baku. Special rapporteur on political prisoners for South
Caucasus Region is proposed to be appointed. Armenian NGOS appealed
to PACE and asked appointment of new rapporteur to Armenia. As
Azerbaijan, Eugenia Zhivkova and Andres Herkel , members of Monitoring
Committee are following the situation in the country. Samad Seyidov
noted during discussions at PACE that there is monitoring and
co-rapporteurs consider cases of political prisoners. Appointment of
new rapporteur can establish additional bureaucracy. There is no need
for it. Methinks, PACE Bureau will not support it during session.
-Will CE Fact Finding Mission on cultural monuments in South Caucasus
visit the region?
-Visit of Mission has been postponed. It is impossible to carry out
visit of Mission in current situation. There are several reasons of
it and one of them is linked with tensity in the region and violation
of cease-fire every day. We aim to cover visit of mission each three
states in the same time, because of closeness of historical-cultural
values of South Caucasus. Second purpose is mission should visit
Nagorno Karabakh through Azerbaijan and there are several technical
problems on it. Azerbaijani side ensures security in the contact
frontline for its side, but Armenia not. They want mission to visit
Nagorno Karabakh via Armenia and it contradicts our territorial
integrity and sovereignty and we should impede it. There will be such
terms before further visits.
-Will activity of former CE rapporteur on missing people be continued
and by whom?
-It will be continued. Azerbaijan has already submitted all lists. The
issue was set up before Armenian delegation and final lists have not
been prepared by them. The Council of Europe expects Armenia to make
correct list at present.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress