Thursday, April 18 2024 16:23

ArmInfo.Negotiations are underway in the Committee of Ministers on the return of Azerbaijan to  PACE. This was reported by PACE co-rapporteur on Azerbaijan, Norwegian MP  Lise Christoffersen.

"We want to see Azerbaijan in the Assembly, but for this the  Azerbaijani authorities must make certain concessions and fulfil a  number of requirements," Christoffersen said.  Asked about the  concessions, Christoffersen said that "the Azerbaijani authorities  must co-operate with the Assembly and create conditions for the  co-rapporteurs to work in the country without hindrance, including  prison visits. Azerbaijan must also fulfil its human rights  obligations.

When the Co-Rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee were in  Azerbaijan from 3-7 June last year, they were not allowed to visit  political prisoners.  Lise Cristoffersen pointed out that although  the Minister of Justice of Azerbaijan promised that they would be  given such an opportunity during their next visit, they were not  allowed there again on 20-21 November last year.

The prohibition of the Monitoring Committee's co-rapporteurs to work  freely in Azerbaijan and the non-admission of other PACE rapporteurs  - Hannah Bardell and Paul Havana - to the country became the reason  for depriving the Azerbaijani delegation of the right to vote at the  January 2024 PACE session.

The ban on co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee to work freely  in Azerbaijan and the denial of access to the country for other PACE  rapporteurs - Hannah Bardell l (United Kingdom, NR),  and Paul Gavan  (Ireland, UEL), as well as aggression against Artsakh - became the  reason for depriving the Azerbaijani delegation of voting rights at  the January 2024 PACE session. Azerbaijan was deprived of the right  to participate in the work of the Organization for a year.