Human Rights Watch Called EU to Press on Armenia, Georgia and AzerbaijanDecember 9, 2005 - 17:11 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The European Union should press for concrete benchmarks on torture, freedom of expression and other key human rights issues on Monday when it holds ministerial-level meetings with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, Human Rights Watch said today. The European Union is holding these annual meetings in Brussels under the framework of its Partnership and Cooperation Agreements with the three countries. Under its European Neighborhood Policy, the European Union is currently negotiating "action plans" with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia that will set concrete benchmarks for progress in a range of areas, including human rights. Closer economic, social and cultural ties with the European Union will depend on whether countries fulfill the benchmarks, giving the European Union significant leverage on human rights issues in the countries of the south Caucasus, Human Rights Watch said. "This meeting gives the European Union a unique opportunity to press Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia for concrete progress on human rights," said Holly Cartner, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "EU governments should not miss this chance to encourage tangible improvements on human rights in these countries." "EU cooperation with the South Caucasus countries needs to include a public acknowledgment of ongoing human rights problems," said Cartner. "Without admitting that human rights violations exist in these countries, the European Union cannot expect to address them in a meaningful way." Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Get Started: An educational platform for young startuppers The Get Started program which operates in two phases is an important platform for young startuppers. Byblos Bank Armenia celebrates Students' Day with scholarship recipients YSU students who received scholarships from Byblos Bank Armenia gathered in a casual setting to meet with the Bank's CEO, Hayk Stepanyan. Azerbaijan extends Rune Vardanyan’s arrest by 5 months A court in Azerbaijan has extended the arrest of former Nagorno-Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan by five months. Armenia border residents dissatisfied with delimitation Residents Kirants are dissatisfied with the results of the delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. |