MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

24.10.2005

to wind up the debate on statements by the Council and Commission
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Rolandas Pavilionis
on behalf of the UEN Group
on Azerbaijan

B6‑0578/2005

European Parliament resolution on Azerbaijan

The European Parliament,

-   having regard to its previous resolutions on Azerbaijan,

-   having regard to the interim reports by the OSCE Election Observation Mission,

-   having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas national elections to the Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan are scheduled for 6 November 2005,

B.  whereas Azerbaijan's previous election, according to international observers, did not meet international democratic standards,

C.  whereas in September 2005 thousands of people took to the streets of Baku demanding free and fair parliamentary elections and the police reacted with violence and arrested protesters,

D.  whereas over the last weeks the Azeri police have detained as many as 200 opposition activists, including several parliamentary candidates,

E.  whereas the Azeri police have arrested Farhad Aliyev, the former minister for the economy, and his brother Rafiq Aliyev, who owns the country's largest oil company, and accused them of conspiring with the exiled opposition leader Rasul Guliyev to stage a coup d'état before the elections,

F.  whereas the OSCE office in Baku has criticised the government of Azerbaijan for violent incidents, use of excessive and unjustified force against demonstrators, and questionable detentions and mass arrests,

G.  whereas restrictions are being imposed on media access for opposition candidates and the independent radio station ANS CHM Radio has been shut down,

1.  Underlines the importance of relations with Azerbaijan and its commitment to helping the Azeri people establish democracy, the rule of law and a sustainable economy;

2.  Stresses the importance of the forthcoming elections for the development of mutually profitable relations with the EU, and expresses its great concern at the failure to guarantee sufficient freedom of assembly and equal media access for the opposition;

3.  Is convinced that it is still possible for Azerbaijan to hold free and fair elections on 6 November;

4.  Condemns the restrictions on freedom of assembly during the campaign and urges the Azeri government to refrain from any violence;

5.  Stresses that equal media access for opposition candidates is an essential condition if the elections are to be regarded as free and fair;

6.  Demands the release of all opposition leaders and candidates and of those imprisoned for participation in the rallies; underlines the importance of participation in the elections by exiled politicians;

7.  Calls on the Azeri government to allow unrestricted monitoring of the electoral process by opposition representatives and foreign observers;

8.  Calls on the Council and Commission to undertake close monitoring of the election process in Azerbaijan and to suspend EU assistance if the democratic criteria for the elections are not met;

9.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission, the President and Parliament of Azerbaijan, and the UN Secretary-General.