13 September 2004, 20:58
No tough measures towards Azerbaijan
The next meeting of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) is to be held in Paris on September 16. A report of PACE rapporteur on political prisoners in Azerbaijan Malcolm Bruce is on the agenda of the meeting. The situation with political prisoners in Azerbaijan is expected to be evaluated at the meeting, human rights activist Rena Saddadinova said to the Caucasian Knot correspondent.
It is worth reminding that for the last time the PACE touched upon the question of political prisoners in Azerbaijan during the January 2004 session. Then the PACE obliged Azerbaijan to take precise measures to solve the problem of political prisoners and uphold democratic norms and freedom of speech. Otherwise PACE threatened serious problems to Baku. At the same time the resolution was passed demanding that the problem should be unconditionally solved before the PACE autumn session. Otherwise Azerbaijan's membership in the Council of Europe would reach "critical point", the human rights activist added.
"I don't think there can be any tragic consequences for Azerbaijan after the autumn session. They will "strictly warn" again, give "last recommendations" again, and the authorities will take a new "school vacation"," Human Rights Center Director Eldar Zeynalov said.
Author: Zaur Rasulzade, CK correspondent Source: Caucasian Knot
