OSCE Chairman encourages swift reforms in Azerbaijan

BAKU, 28 February 2008 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva, today called on Azerbaijani authorities to accelerate the democratic reform process, saying the Organization was ready to continue its support toward this goal.

"Azerbaijan has made good progress in economic reforms," he said. "The presidential elections in October provide Azerbaijan with an opportunity to also demonstrate its commitments to the democratic reform process, and I welcome the intention to hold the elections in accordance with international standards."

"I trust that the shortcomings identified by the OSCE-led election observation mission during the 2005 parliamentary elections will be addressed well before the election. The OSCE is ready to continue supporting this effort."

In meetings with officials including President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, Chairman Kanerva encouraged open dialogue with political parties and civil society organizations. During his visit, he also met the leader of the Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabakh, Nizami Bakhmanov.

Minister Kanerva discussed the need to respect the right of citizens to assembly freely both before and after the elections, and the need to allow journalists to do their job without hindrance.

The Minister said he was concerned about the ongoing trial of Ganimat Zahidov, editor of the opposition paper Azdaliq.

"I hope that the trial will be fair and impartial," he said. "The OSCE community is concerned about press freedom in Azerbaijan, and I urge leaders here to ensure swift progress on media-related legal reforms."

The Chairman called on Azerbaijan's leaders to show courage and statesmanship in the political negotiations that aim to create progress in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, noting that the OSCE would support the results of the negotiations reached between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"A peace agreement would be a milestone, but in addition, the populations on both sides must be prepared for peace through promotion of friendly and normal contacts across community lines," he said. "The OSCE is ready to assist both sides in these efforts."

Minister Kanerva also met representatives of political parties. The Chairman and his delegation, which included OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Goran Lennmarker, visited Armenia on Tuesday and Georgia on Wednesday.