Head of European Parliament calls Azerbaijani authorities to hold dialogue with opposition

When speaking at a press conference on the outcomes of his visit to Azerbaijan, Jerzy Buzek, head of the European Parliament, called the Azerbaijani authorities to advance with reforms, ensure democratic rights and freedoms and hold dialogue with the civil society and the opposition.

"Azerbaijan has a need to improve enforcement of human rights and the freedoms of expression, speech, assembly and media," said Jerzy Buzek.
In the course of his meetings with state officials, Mr Buzek also discussed the resolution criticizing the situation with human rights in Azerbaijan, recently adopted by the European Parliament. He called the Azerbaijani leadership to hold dialogue with the civil society and the opposition.

"Along with such cooperation, I stressed the importance of protecting human rights and the freedoms of speech, assembly and media, and establishment of independent judiciary. Changes in these areas would benefit Azerbaijan," said the head of the European Parliament.

In the opinion of Togrul Djuvarly, a member of the Azerbaijani National Public Committee for European Integration, the visit of the head of the European Parliament to Southern Caucasus reaffirms the commitment of the EU to advance through all its institutions - the European Commission, European Parliament and others - democratic values in Southern Caucasus.