UPR report of Azerbaijan unanimously adopted
On 20 September 2013, the meeting was held in connection with the adoption of the report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Republic of Azerbaijan within the framework of the 24th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC).
During the meeting, taking the floor the representatives of China, Council of Europe, Cuba, Djibouti, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Russian Federation, Sri Lanka, UNICEF and the United Arab Emirates congratulated the Azerbaijani side for the successful fulfillment of its next process on UPR and the constructive participation of our delegation, and recommended to adopt the report of the Republic of Azerbaijan by HRC unanimously. During the event, as well as the representatives of some international non-governmental organizations took the floor.
At the beginning of the event, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Khalaf Khalafov who was approved by the Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan as the head of delegation of Azerbaijan on UPR Working Group, made the opening speech.
In his speech, Mr. Khalaf Khalafov noted that 158 recommendations out of 162 submitted in total within the framework of the review fully or partially accepted by the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the certain part of these recommendations had already been implemented and the other remaining recommendations were at the stage of realization.
Noting the growth of economic indicators of the Republic of Azerbaijan over the last 10 years as the sustainable and stable development of the country, Mr. Khalaf Khalafov gave detailed information on the measures taken by the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the fields of socio-economic development, health, education, protection of women rights and fight against corruption.
Touching on the active cooperation of the country with the special procedure mandate-holders of the UN, Mr. Khalaf Khalafov pointed out that the Republic of Azerbaijan attached great importance to the cooperation with the special rapporteurs of HRC and in this context, he reminded once again that the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan had sent a standing invitation to the special mandate holders in April 2013.
Besides, Mr. Khalaf Khalafov mentioned that the Government of Azerbaijan had not accepted 4 recommendations of Armenia out of 162 recommendations, and these 4 recommendations reflected the aggression policy of the Republic of Armenia, that pursued ethnic cleansing policy against Azerbaijanis since 1988, committed the Khojaly Genocide in 1992 and occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 adjacent districts that made up 20% of the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan. At the same time, Mr. Khalaf Khalafov noted the fact of occupation that violated the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan by Armenia was the main problem of Azerbaijan in the field of human rights, he informed that along with the problem associated with more than 1 million of internally displaced persons and refugees, this occupation had created political, social and economic problems in Azerbaijan.
At the end of the meeting, the Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review of the Republic of Azerbaijan (A/HRC/24/13) was adopted by the HRC unanimously.
