Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

BAKU: US Department of State issues report on Azerbaijan

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • BAKU: US Department of State issues report on Azerbaijan

    Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
    March 2 2005


    US Department of State issues report on Azerbaijan



    Baku, March 1, AssA-Irada
    The US Department of State in its 2004 report on Azerbaijan, said
    that the 2003 presidential elections in this country fell short of
    international standards and were marred with serious violations of
    law.
    The Azeri government is implementing a program on transition to
    market economy, however, reforms are lagging behind and 2 million out
    of 8 million of Azeris presently live and work abroad, the report
    says.
    `Armenia continues occupying Azerbaijan's lands, including Upper
    Garabagh. About 800,000 people were displaced during the war from
    1988 to 1993. Armenia occupies 18% of Azerbaijan's territory, which
    greatly impedes the political, economic and democratic development in
    the region.'
    The report also says that although ceasefire was reached by
    Azerbaijan and Armenia in 1994, civilians are still being killed in
    ceasefire breaches.
    `Six Azerbaijanis were killed as a result of ceasefire violations
    over the last year. Moreover, 4,850 Azerbaijanis are currently in
    Armenian captivity,' it said.
    The report, which also provided analysis of the human rights
    situation in Azerbaijan, termed as an important step the release of
    810 prisoners, including 55 political prisoners, on presidential
    amnesty acts.
    The US Department of State also said it is concerned over the current
    situation with socio-economic, health, judicial and legal areas and
    claims that epidemic diseases have taken hold among prisoners,
    children and orphans.
    `774 prisoners were infected with tuberculosis in 2004 and this is
    related to their imprisonment conditions,' the report reads.
    The US Department of State highly assessed the commencement of combat
    against corruption in Azerbaijan. It said, however, that no tangible
    progress has been achieved in this area yet. `Bribery is particularly
    widespread in law-enforcement bodies, which is a violation of civil
    rights,' the report said.*
Working...
X