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COE FOREIGN MINISTERS MEET IN STRASBOURG
Human rights problems, democratic reforms and situation in the Balkans were discussed by COE Foreign Ministers in Strasbourg last week.
Also attending the 2-day meeting was Azeri Foreign Minister Vilayat Guliyev. According to a source from the MFA, he held a number of meetings in Strasbourg.
While in Strasbourg, Minister Guliyev signed, in the presence of Walter Schwimmer, the Council of Europe Secretary General, the European Convention on the Promotion of a Transnational Long-Term Voluntary Service for Young People.
This Convention is aimed at 18-25 year-olds wishing to perform voluntary service abroad for periods of 3 to 12 months.
To date, this Convention has been signed by France, Luxembourg, Romania, San Marino, and the United Kingdom.
PARDONING COMMISSION REBUFFS EX-MINISTER's PLEA
The State Commission on Pardoning has turned down a plea by former interior minister Isgandar Hamidov, sentenced to 14 years in jail in 1995, says head of the President's office department for the law-enforcement affairs Fuad Alasgarov.
Mr. Alasgarov then qualified as absolutely groundless the allegations by certain human rights groups that I. Hamidov is a political prisoner. According to him, I. Hamidov was convicted of embezzling state property, beating a journalist and illegally freeing 700 outlaws from prison.
Mr. Alasgarov went on to say that both Alikram Hummatov and Rahim Gaziyev, also often referred to as political prisoners, were sentenced for criminal wrongdoings and should not be thought of as those held on political grounds.
Touching upon the work of Pardoning Commission since it was set up in 1995, F. Alasgarov said a total of 2,300 people have been released so far, while prison sentences of 55,000 people reduced.
Mr. Alasgarov added that there have been misleading media publications lately suggesting that the visiting COE human right experts allegedly forwarded a list of political prisoners in Azerbaijan to the government.
"The experts have not yet qualified anyone as political prisoner. Neither have they prepared any lists. All they have is the list compiled by local human right activists. Azerbaijan has repeatedly stated that there are no political prisoners in the country, there are people convicted of concrete crimes", he said.
Experts from the Council of Europe, members of the European Human Rights Commission Stephan Trechsel, Evert Alkema and Alexander Arabachiyev spent a few days in Baku last week, meeting with representatives of human right organizations and traveling to the Gobustan prison to talk to inmates.
On Thursday, the delegation met with the parliamentary group representing the Milli Mejlis in the PA CE.
Head of the delegation Mr. Trehsel mentioned that prior to being admitted to the Council of Europe Azerbaijan had agreed to free or retry those held on political grounds. Among such persons he referred to Alikram Humbatov, Rahim Gaziyev and Iskandar Hamidov.
COE REAFFIRMS TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY PRINCIPLE
The final communiqué of the 108th meeting of the COE Council of Ministers adopted on May 11 reflects the support for recognized borders, sovereignty and territorial integrity of European nations.
When the document was under consideration, Armenian foreign minister said his country was opposed to it as it recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. His statement was qualified as a non-constructive one by participating delegations and the COE proper.
The communiqué also condemns all types of terrorism and ethnic violence and expresses a deep concern with the plight of refugees, IDPs and the unaccounted for.
Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan said in a statement Saturday that Minister Guliyev had informed European parliamentarians of the achievements in the area of commitments Azerbaijan assumed in the COE. He underscored that Armenia's having violated the territorial integrity and inviolability of Azerbaijan's borders undermines the already precarious situation in the region.
CIS DEFENSE MINISTERS TO FOCUS ON OVER 20 ISSUES IN BAKU
CIS defense ministers are expected to focus on over 20 issues at a meeting of the Council of CIS defense ministers in Baku on May 17-18.
According to a diplomatic source, the discussions will be centered on future work of the council, results of "Southern shield of the Commonwealth" military training in April, a draft military and technical cooperation program, etc.
It has yet to be seen how Armenia will be represented at the Baku meeting.
AZERBAIJAN's LEGAL LAWS BEST IN CIS
Reforms in the legal field are drifting to a close, head of the President's office department for the law-enforcement affairs Fuad Alasgarov told journalists in a traditional news conference at the Yeni Azerbaijan Party Friday.
According to him, the CIS Parliamentary Assembly has described Azerbaijan's legal laws as exemplary for the Commonwealth.
As part of the legal reform concept in Azerbaijan, the transformation has affected the judiciary and prosecutor's office, and new laws have been adopted in the areas of tax, customs and police. Although the reforms are not being implemented smoothly, the hindrances will gradually be eliminated, Mr. Alasgarov said.
FOREIGN MINISTER SPEAKS HIGHLY OF AGIP
Foreign minister Vilayat Guliyev received Italian ambassador to Azerbaijan Mauricio Moreno Monday and spoke highly of the successful work of Italian "Agip" in the non-oil sectors. He stressed the company's charitable activities both in assisting Azeri refugees and in the cultural sphere, says a MFA press-release.
Min. Guliyev and Amb. Moreno exchanged views of preparation of several agreements, including one on avoiding double taxation and cultural cooperation, likely to be signed shortly.
ERCAN MURAT CONCLUDES AZERI MISSION
The United Nations Secretary General and UNDP Administrator decided to reassign UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Ercan Murat to Kyrgyzstan.
Respectively, his four-year tenure in Azerbaijan will conclude at the end of May, 2001.
Mr. Ercan Murat has been the UN's top official in Azerbaijan since September 1997. One of the major achievements during his tenure in the country was the establishment of a well-organized UN Country Team mechanism providing for the effective and transparent coordination and collaboration of all the UN System organizations.
ICRC SUMS UP APRIL ACTIVITY
In April, the protection team of the Baku delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) visited persons deprived of their freedom in Colonies #3, #12 and the Detention center for administrative offences of the Ministry of Interior. The visits were conducted in accordance with the ICRC standard working procedures. In the framework of the tuberculosis control project inside the penitentiary system conducted by the Ministry of Justice with the assistance of the ICRC, 530 detainees are presently under treatment.
During the one-month period the Orthopedic Center, operated jointly by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection and the ICRC, housed 28 patients in its dormitory and delivered 25 prostheses (6 out of them for mine victims), 59 orthoses, 21 patients were supplied with crutches and sticks. The Orthopedic Center was visited by 86 persons.
Throughout the month the ICRC Pedagogical program team held a number of meetings with secondary schools teachers in Baku and Guba. The ICRC also sponsored theatre performances of "Mangourte" by Chingiz Aytmatov conducted in the schools by the Azerbaijan Pantomime Theatre.
In April, the ICRC Communication Department run a three-day workshop for employees of the Red Crescent Society.
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Issue No.20(202), 2001
Heated discussion evolves over Garabagh peace planMoscow reaffirms strategic interests in AzerbaijanIslamic extremist exposures coming upNews digestNationParliament newsOpposition newsEcologyBusinessOil & gas news
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