[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 112 (Friday, July 13, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1519]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS PROBLEMS IN AZERBAIJAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 12, 2007

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing a 
Resolution relating to human rights problems in the Republic of 
Azerbaijan. I am pleased to be joined by Representative Thaddeus 
McCotter and Representative Gary Ackerman as original co-sponsors of 
the Resolution.
  The Resolution calls on the Government of Azerbaijan to release 
Farhad Aliyev and his brother, Rafiq, from detention during trial. Both 
of them have been detained in solitary confinement from October 2005 
until today, when their trial is already in progress. It also calls on 
Azerbaijan to assure that their right to a fair and open trial before 
an independent and impartial tribunal is honored. Importantly, the 
resolution calls on the Azeri government to fulfill all its 
international obligations respecting the rule of law, including those 
relating to Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and 
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), among others.
  Farhad Aliyev, a pro-market advocate and former government minister, 
was originally arrested on charges of complicity in an alleged 
attempted coup d'etat during the 2005 parliamentary elections. He is 
now facing trial on unrelated financial charges. Rafiq, the former 
president of the oil company Azpetrol, was arrested the same day on 
minor customs violations, and is being tried on similar financial 
charges.
  The 2007 Freedom House Country Report has this to say about the rule 
of law in Azerbaijan: ``The judiciary is corrupt, inefficient and 
subservient to the executive branch. Arbitrary arrest and detention are 
common, particularly for members of the political opposition. Detainees 
are often held for long periods of time before trial, and their access 
to lawyers is restricted.''
  From the beginning, the arrest and trial of Farhad and Rafiq Aliyev 
have been marked by numerous violations of international legal norms, a 
view shared by independent observers, including the OSCE, the Council 
of Europe and many human rights organizations, not to mention the U.S. 
State Department. The Aliyevs have been systematically denied due 
process and a fair and open trial, as well visitation by family, 
medical and international legal advisers.
  As the Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in 
Europe (CSCE), and having served as an election observer in Azerbaijan, 
I am aware that international human rights organizations, and the U.S. 
State Department, have raised concerns about human rights in 
Azerbaijan, including lack of free elections, arbitrary arrest and 
detention, and imprisonment of journalists, among other issues. I am 
particularly concerned about the ongoing crackdown on independent 
journalists. The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media has often 
criticized Azerbaijan about its violations of media freedoms, noting 
that at present there are more journalists in jail in Azerbaijan than 
in any other OSCE state. This resolution calls on the Government of 
Azerbaijan to release these journalists from prison and to identify and 
prosecute those who have been attacking reporters and editors.

  I am well aware of the challenges and opportunities presented by the 
countries in the Caucasus region. Azerbaijan is a country with vast 
potential and is an important economic and strategic ally of the United 
States. I respect the role it is playing in the war on terror. But this 
is all the more reason for the U.S. Congress to urge the government in 
Baku to comply with its international human rights commitments.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
resolution.

                          ____________________