On 07 February Parliament Assembly of the Council of Europe Monitoring Committee co-rapporteurs Andreas Herkel and Yevgeniya Jivkova held a press-conference on the results of their trip to Azerbaijan. Andreas Herkel emphasized that the resolution of the journalists’ problem depends on the government and especially on the president. (08-FEB-08) 
    
Written by Shahla Ismayilova / HRH Azerbaijan on the basis of information from Turan News Agency

“Some serious measures have to be taken in the run-up for elections,” Herkel said, responding to a question about the upcoming elections in Azerbaijan. “The imprisoned journalists have to be released. I believe it is not normal to arrest journalists. Even the most critical writers should be free to fight the government with their pens.”

Herkel didn’t rule out the designation of a special rapporteur on political prisoners in Azerbaijan. “It is hard to answer this question at the moment,” said Herkel. “But I hope that the efforts of the working group will be so successful that there won’t be a need for a co-rapporteur. This depends primarily on the working group. But it is very hard to make an early prognosis like that right now.”