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Despite some recent optimism and new talks starting on 18 June, the conflict in Western Sahara – with its heavy continuing costs on all the parties – won’t be resolved without a fundamental change in the UN Security Council’s approach.The International Crisis Group releases two reports on the conflict today. (11-JUNE-07)
 

Morocco is cracking down harder than usual on independence activists in Western Sahara raising doubts about peace talks due to start next week, the Polisario independence movement said on Monday. “Morocco´s behaviour may jeopardise the negotiations, as it could also jeopardise peace and stability in the region,” Polisario´s foreign affairs spokesman Mohamed Salem Ould Salek told a news conference in the Algerian capital. (11-JUNE-07)
 

On the 8-th of June the Freedom of Expression Coordination Council conducted a roundtable discussion in the International Press Club. During the event pressure against Azerbaijan´s mass media was discussed and signatures were being gathered on an appeal to Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis. The appeal reads “The problems surrounding the safety of journalists have been stuck to this day in a very serious state.” (09-JUNE-07)
 

The Uzbek Bureau for Human Rights and the Rule of Law (Uzbekistan) and the Institute for Peace and Democracy (Azerbaijan) published the book “Azerbaijan and Republic of Uzbekistan. Human Rights and Democratic Freedoms in 2006”. The presentation of the book will take place on the 15-th of June with participation of representatives from Middle Asia countries. The book claims about raising similarities of these two countries, preventing the development of economic market, liberalism and democracy. (06-JUNE-07)

On 8 June the Freedom of Expression Coordination Council conducted a roundtable discussion in the International Press Club. The pressure against Azerbaijan´s mass media was discussed and signatures were being gathered on an appeal to Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis. The appeal reads “The problems surrounding the safety of journalists have been stuck to this day in a very serious state.”  (09-JUNE-07)
 

The Rafto Foundation welcomes Bush’s recognition of Rebiya Kadeer and her struggle for democracy and the human rights of the Uighur people. At a conference on democracy and security on June 5, President George W. Bush met with Rafto Laureate Rebiya Kadeer (2oo4) and praised her as human rights defender, an individual who has struggled for freedom, democracy and human rights in the face of tyranny. (JUN-08-07)
 

Over 20 journalists appealed to foreign embassies for political asylum. The journalists claim that constant government harassment give them no space to work as journalists and there is permanent danger to their lives, however, the head of presidential administration Ramiz Mehdiyev (right) claims that there is no pressure on press in the Republic of Azerbaijan. (31-MAY-07)

On 23 May the Azerbaijani Government introduced the unexpected and shocking ban on using amplifiers to broadcast the Arabic call to prayer, a distinctive trademark of Muslim countries around the world. However after strong national dissatisfaction the ban was called “misunderstanding” and was abolished after the meeting of the Caucasus Muslim Administrator with the President I.Aliyev. (31-May-07)

The growing tension on the human rights situation and ongoing intimidation of mass media in the Republic of Azerbaijan remain to be the point of serious concern among the numerous international organizations. During May, there were dozens of international reactions, but Azerbaijani government is still ignoring the calls to stop intimidating journalists. (30-MAY-07)

On 24 May, the World Press Freedom Committee sent the letter to the President of Republic of Azerbaijan I.Aliyev. The letter reads: “Your Excellency, on behalf of the World Press Freedom Committee —an organization representing 45 press freedom groups from six continents— I wish to express my profound concern about the alarmingly high number of incarcerations of journalists in your country” (25-MAY-07)

The Institute for Reporter Freedom and Safety condemns the government for preventing the newspapers “Realny Azerbaycan” and “Gundalik Azerbaycan” from being published, and the absurd new charges that have been brought against editor Eynulla Fatullayev. On behalf of IRFS, Emin Huseynov (right) calls for Azerbaijan’s leadership to cease its persecution of the press and its policies, which are discrediting to the country at an international level. (23-MAY-07)

On May 20 from 9 p.m. and midnight workers from the Ministry of Emergency Situations carried out an operation to officially remove all employees from the office of Realny and Gundalik Azerbaycan Newspaper and seal the facility shut. Eynulla Fatullayev, the founder and the chief editor of both of these papers who is already serving a 2.5 prison sentence since 20 April 2007, as there was announced that a criminal case for terrorism against him. (22-MAY-07)