Director of the ODIHR OSCE calls Azerbaijani authorities and opposition to dialogue

The authorities of Azerbaijan have broad potentials to progress along the way of democratic reforms. This idea is stressed in the press release of the Baku OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) Office issued on the outcomes of the two-day visit to Azerbaijan of Christian Shtrokhal, director of the OSCE's ODIHR (Office for Democratic Institutes and Human Rights) and now at the disposal of the correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot."

Mr. Shtrokhal has called the leaders of Azerbaijan to implement the recommendations put forward by the ODIHR after the 2005 parliamentary elections. The ODIHR is going to continue cooperation with the Council of Europe's Venice Commission with the aim to improve the electoral code and the law on the freedom of assembly.

The ODIHR head also discussed in Baku the situation with human rights and, in particular, the problems in pre-trial custodies with the aim to investigate police abuses. Mr. Shtrokhal has also noted the importance to ensure the freedom of mass media. In the opinion of the ODIHR director, the dialogue of the authorities with the political forces and institutes of civil society is not only desirable but also necessary to achieve the above aims.

We note here that during his visit to Azerbaijan, the head of the ODIHR met representatives of political parties, NGOs, mass media, and top leaders of the country.