“Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is ready for a dialogue with the opposition”, says the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Christian Strohal. “The President assured me that he is ready for a dialogue with political forces”, he told a press conference on Friday. “We are ready to support a dialogue between the authorities and the opposition”, Strohal said, stressing the need for such a dialogue prior to the parliamentary election due this autumn, Assa-Irada reported. (10-FEB-2005)

Commenting on the possible changes to Azerbaijan’s election laws, he said the issue was discussed at his meetings with President Aliyev and other government officials, as well as leaders of opposition parties and human rights representatives.”These issues are in the competence of relevant election bodies and the parliament of Azerbaijan.”

Strohal added that the issue of “active participation of voters needs to be solved”.
The OSCE official did not elaborate on the issue of the 26 recommendations, presented to the Azerbaijani government by ODIHR after the 2003 presidential election in the country. He said, however, that this question was appropriate, as the key goal of the OSCE mission’s current visit to Azerbaijan was to determine to what extent these proposals were fulfilled by Baku. Nonetheless, Strohal said that most of these requirements were not met.
Touching upon other OSCE projects in Azerbaijan, Strohal said the first stage of support for the reform of the judiciary system has been completed. He said the country’s legislation allows conducting fair court trials, but negative practices exist, in particular, abuses by the police of the arrested and inadequate court rulings.
The results of monitoring Azerbaijan’s judiciary system will be discussed with the involvement of international experts, after which the OSCE will determine its further strategy on the judiciary reform in the country, Strohal said.
The OSCE representative continued that the organization also plans to assist Azerbaijan in establishing the Bar Association, pointing out the need for increasing the number of lawyers included in this body.

OSCE report
Following the news conference, Strohal passed on to journalists the OSCE report on the court trials of opposition leaders, sentenced for their involvement in the October 15-16, 2003 post-election riots.
The report says that the monitoring of these trials, which resulted in the conviction of over 100 opposition representatives, failed to meet the obligations to the OSCE in terms of observance of human rights, the rule of law, numerous international acts and Azerbaijan’s laws.
In its report, the OSCE recommended that relevant government agencies repeal the results of the trials, which were marred by the most serious violations of law, while those convicted be released.

The authorities should look into all complaints related to torture and abuse, and hold accountable all those involved in such actions. They should investigate all allegations concerning the inappropriate use of force by law enforcement officers in October 2003 and punish those responsible, it said. The authorities should ensure the rights of those affected by torture and unlawful use of force to receive compensations. An independent body should be set up to investigate the reports of torture and maltreatment, the report said.
The OSCE recommendations also included a number of other provisions calling on the authorities to ensure all judiciary and procedural norms and the right to appeal against court rulings.

Proposals
The OSCE ODIHR Director, Strohal, made several proposals on improving the legislation and administration system in Azerbaijan after the last presidential election.
“Hopes need to be created for a democratic election process”, he said in a meeting with the Milli Majlis (parliament) speaker Murtuz Alasgarov.
Strohal proposed to reconsider the make-up of electoral commissions and form them based on equal terms. He added that the OSCE is ready to provide any assistance to Azerbaijan on the eve of the parliamentary election in the country.

Assistance
The OSCE Bureau can provide assistance to Azerbaijan in implementing structural reforms, Strohal said in a meeting with the chairman of the permanent parliamentary commission on human rights, Sirus Tabrizli.
“We will be able to assist Azerbaijan in conducting a number of structural reforms. Such assistance is related to the justice system, police, security and the parliament’s role in society.”
Tabrizli informed the OSCE representative of the development observed in Azerbaijan in recent years. He stated that the absence of censorship in the country is reassuring, but said he disagrees with the widespread publication of slanderous information in local media.