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B7-0701/2011
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Azerbaijan

13.12.2011

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure

Charles Tannock, Valdemar Tomaševski, Tadeusz Cymański, Michał Tomasz Kamiński, Adam Bielan, Marek Henryk Migalski, Geoffrey Van Orden on behalf of the ECR Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0701/2011

Proċedura : 2011/2945(RSP)
Ċiklu ta' ħajja waqt sessjoni
Ċiklu relatat mad-dokument :  
B7-0701/2011
Testi mressqa :
B7-0701/2011
Votazzjonijiet :
Testi adottati :

B7‑0701/2011

European Parliament resolution on Azerbaijan

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolution on Azerbaijan, notably those concerning human rights in particular that of 12 May 2011,

 

- having regard to the statement by the spokesperson of the Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy of 18 April 2011 and the statement by the EU Delegation office in Baku of 10 March 2011,

 

- having regard to the Statement by the spokesperson of the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton of 12 October 2011,

- having regard conclusions on the EU-Azerbaijan Cooperation Council Twelfth meeting, Brussels, 25 November 2011,

 

- having regard to the Foreign Affairs Council conclusions of 26 July 2010 on the ENP

 

- having regard to the Commission communication of 3 December 2008 on Eastern Partnership (COM(2008)0823),

 

- having regard to Rule 122(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

 

 

A.  whereas Azerbaijan is actively participating in the ENP and EaP and its committed to respecting democracy, human rights and the rule of law, which are core value of those two initiatives.

 

B.  whereas Rafig Tagi, a prominent Azerbaijani writer and journalist, died in Baku 23 November 2011 from the brutal knife attack four days earlier,

 

C.  whereas Rafiq Tagi had reportedly been receiving death threats in a weeks prior, for an article amongst others published on Radio Azadlyq's (Liberty) website on 10 November 2011, in which he criticised the current Iranian government;

 

D.  whereas a leading Iranian cleric, Grand Ayatollah Fazel Lankarani issued the fatwa calling for Rafiq Tagi to be killed after Rafiq Tagi published the article the newspaper Sanat, in which he argued that Islamic values were preventing Azerbaijan's integration into European structures and stunting its democratic progress;

 

 

 

 

 

 

E.  whereas the Iranian authorities never condemned this fatwa, which appear to be an incitement to murder, nor have they clarified that anyone suspected of inciting, planning, carrying out or aiding attacks on Rafiq Tagi should be brought to justice;

 

F.  whereas Azerbaijan is actively participating in the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and the Eastern Partnership and is committed to respecting democracy, human rights and the rule of law, which are core values of these two initiatives,

 

G.  the respect of the rule of law, the freedom of speech and human rights is a fundamental principle of the EU, and lies at the heart of the political dialogue between the EU and Azerbaijan,

 

H.  whereas Azerbaijan will take up a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the period of 2012 - 2013, and has committed to uphold the values as expressed in UN human rights charter,

 

I.  whereas Azerbaijan as a member of the Council of Europe is bound by international commitments to the principles of international law and to fundamental values;

 

 

 

1.  Calls to Azerbaijani authorities to continue their efforts strengthen democracy and rule of law as well as to respect its international commitments related to democracy and human rights;

 

2. Strongly condemns the murder of Rafig Tagi and is disappointed with the failure of the Azerbaijani authorities to clearly condemn the murder of Rafig Tagi so far and provide broader coverage of the investigation of the circumstances surrounding his death to the public

3. Stresses that the right to free speech is fundamental to a free and democratic society as well as to the protection and promotion of other rights; calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to refrain from using the articles of the criminal law to stifle free debate on religion;

 

4. Welcome the Azerbaijani government's the opening of a criminal investigation and calls on the Azerbaijan authorities to ensure it is through and effective, and that perpetrator/s are prosecuted and brought to trial in a trial which meets international fair trial standards;

 

5. Calls on the Iranian authorities to provide all necessary cooperation to the Azerbaijani authorities during the investigation;

 

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the EEAS, European Council, European Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Islamic Republic of Iran, UN Human Rights Council.