​Mammadyarov: Azerbaijan has no restrictions on using Internet and NGOs’ activity

Baku. 2 October. REPORT.AZ/ There are no restrictions on using Internet and NGOs’ activity. Report informs, it was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov at the PACE session in Strasbourg.

Commenting the issue on the human rights situation in Azerbaijan, the Foreign Minister said that there were no restrictions in this regard. According to him, more than 70 percent of the population are active Internet users, and this freedom is not limited by law. Azerbaijan is also taking steps to ensure the transparency of the activities of NGOs.

Mammadyarov was asked about the political prisoners in the country. He replied that it was quite difficult to evaluate by that criterion because there was no universally accepted definition of the term: "We need, first, to develop a definition of who is a" political prisoner ", otherwise it will only be a hypothetical reasoning," the Minister said.

Speaking at the session, the Minister presented the main achievements of Azerbaijan's chairmanship of the  Committee of Ministers, spoke about the activities carried out during this time. He noted that currently one of the most pressing issues is the situation in Ukraine. However, according to the minister,  the Committee of Ministers had made every effort to resolve the crisis in the country.

Mammadyarov stated that in the framework of its presidency, Azerbaijan paid attention to such issues as the development of humanitarian cooperation, promoting inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue, education of youth etc.

Before passing chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers to Belgium, Azerbaijan plans to hold an international conference on Neighborhood Policy on November 7-8.

Mammadyarov issued, that Azerbaijan is ready to continue cooperation with the Council of Europe after passing its presidency in November either.