AZERBAIJANI PARLIAMENT ANNOUNCES REASONS OF FOR NOT ADOPTING LAW ON ALTERNATIVE SERVICE

Trend News Agency
Dec 12 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec 12/ Trend News, I. Alizade/ The Azerbaijani
parliament has announced reasons for not adopting Law on Alternative
Service.

"Some Azerbaijani officials and military leadership believes that
adoption of Law on Alternative Service can weaken military power
of the country. In fact, the key reason for not adopting Law is
that Azerbaijan is at war with Armenia," Safa Mirzayev, chief of
administration of the Azerbaijani parliament, said to reporters.

Azerbaijan undertook several commitments to the Council of Europe when
it was admitted to the organization in 2001. One of these commitments
is adopting Law on Alternative Service. Azerbaijan has fulfilled
the other commitments. The draft Law on Alternative Service has
been developed and the Council of Europe has expressed its attitude
towards it.

Armenia has occupied 20% of Azerbaijan’s territory – Nagorno-Karabakh
and seven surrounding regions. The occupation began in 1988. Azerbaijan
lost the Nagorno-Karabakh, except of Shusha and Khojali, in December
1991. In 1992-93, Armenian Armed Forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and
Nagorno-Karabakh’s seven surrounding regions. In 1994, Azerbaijan
and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time the active
hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia,
France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful, but fruitless
negotiations.

"Alternative service pursues totally different aim and it does not
mean avoiding military service. True military service must depend on
an alternative one," parliament official said.

Mirzayev said there is a political decision to adopt the Law and
Azerbaijan will fulfil this commitment. He said the Council of Europe
has already expressed his attitude to Azerbaijan’s draft Law.

"The main point is to make Azerbaijani laws consistent with the
European standards. The opinion of the Council of Europe included
valuable recommendations and we have taken all of them into
account. The Council of Europe is determining procedures. We think
those choosing alternative service should have sound reasons to do
this. The Council of Europe proposes us to define these reasons,"
Mirzayev added.