COUNCIL OF EUROPE NOT HAVE BASIS TO SUSPECT PACE MONITORING GROUP REPORTER OF PARTIALITY

The council of Europe does not have any basis to suspect the CE Parliamentary Assembly monitoring group reporter Andreas Gross of partiality. CE Secretary General Walter Schwimmer has stated that in his interview with “Turan” agency commenting on the statements of the official Baku regarding the negative and biased attitude of Gross to Azerbaijan. We welcome positive steps that the Azeri government takes regarding the issue of political prisoners but the CE leadership and independent experts cannot be satisfied with the situation in that sphere in Azerbaijan unless that issue is settled completely, Schwimmer stated. Council of Europe state-member cannot have influence on the appointment of the members of the PACE monitoring group, CE Secretary General stressed.