§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Azerbaijan on journalists' freedom. [20884]
§ Peter HainWe continue to raise the issue of media freedom in Azerbaijan through a number of channels; most recently on 4 December in London with senior Azeri Foreign Ministry officials. The Ambassador in Baku has also raised specific issues of concern with Azeri Ministers and Presidential advisers; the UK has participated in joint EU representations in Baku.
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§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Azerbaijan on their compliance with the founding principles of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. [20883]
§ Peter HainWe raise compliance with Council of Europe founding principles regularly with the Azeris, including with the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Azeri Parliament (the deputy leader of the PACE delegation). These matters have also been raised with President Aliev's legal adviser bilaterally and through the Council of Europe monitoring group. The Government have pledged £50,000 to help Azerbaijan with compliance issues.