In Azerbaijan, OSCE PA leaders meet President Aliyev, senior officials

BAKU, 25 January 2016 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Vice-President George Tsereteli (MP, Georgia) today led a high-level parliamentary delegation to Baku for meetings with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Parliament Speaker Ogtay Asadov, Prime Minister Artur Rasizade, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and other leaders on a wide range of domestic and regional issues.

The delegation also included OSCE PA Vice-President Kent Harstedt (MP, Sweden), Deputy Head of the Bulgarian Delegation to the OSCE PA Kristian Vigenin and OSCE PA Secretary General Roberto Montella.
 
“We held constructive and productive meetings with the President, ministers and parliamentary leaders, during which we discussed the importance of promoting peace in the region, pursuing reforms and continuing closer co-operation between the OSCE and its Parliamentary Assembly and the government and parliament of Azerbaijan,” Vice-President Tsereteli said.
 
“Conflicts in this region are high on our agenda. The OSCE PA has consistently supported the work of the Minsk Group and shares its concern about increasing violence. A new level of political will is the key to progress. There is no alternative to a political settlement of the conflict, which will benefit both Azerbaijan and Armenia and their people, as well as the wider region,” Tsereteli said after the meetings. “It is our hope that this visit will revitalize our relations, enabling closer work on a wide range of issues of relevance to Azerbaijan and to the OSCE.”
 
The delegation also met with the newly appointed Azerbaijani Delegation to the OSCE PA, led by Deputy Parliament Speaker Bahar Muradova.
 
Delegation members emphasized that parliamentarians from Azerbaijan and Armenia can play an important role in reducing tensions, including through the OSCE PA’s platform for dialogue and interaction.  
 
Vice-President Harstedt said: “We also discussed the Assembly’s support for reforms in the political, social and economic spheres. The OSCE PA shows its respect for Azerbaijan by advocating continued work on democratic standards and political freedoms in the country. We stand ready to further engage with the country’s leaders, parliamentarians and civil society to promote OSCE principles and implementation of commitments, including in the sphere of elections.”
 
OSCE parliamentarian Vigenin reiterated the Assembly’s request that an OSCE field presence be re-opened in Baku to support Azerbaijan in its implementation of OSCE commitments. 
 
The delegation is also scheduled to meet with members of Azerbaijani civil society.
 
OSCE PA President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland), who was scheduled visit Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia this week, was forced to cancel his participation due to illness.