Jacqueline Hale, senior policy analyst for OSI-Brussels, reports on the challenges that still prevail in Azerbaijan following a recent roundtable of Azerbaijani civil society representatives, European officials, diplomats, and NGOs.
A report by independent analysts from Azerbaijan finds that a number of challenges still prevail in the country, three years on from signing the European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan.
The report delivers an assessment of the progress made by the government of Azerbaijan in meeting its commitments under the EU-Azerbaijan Action Plan in the following priority areas:
- resolving the situation of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict;
- strengthening democracy in the country;
- protecting human rights;
- fighting corruption and improving business practices;
- improving functioning of customs;
- advancing further convergence of economic legislation and administrative practices;
- supporting balanced and sustained economic development;
- strengthening bilateral energy cooperation and regional cooperation
At an event in Brussels at which the report was presented, speakers discussed negative trends, notably the shrinking space for alternative opinions in society at large. They detailed recent restrictions on NGOs as well as continuing challenges to freedom of expression, including the ongoing persecution of journalists—exemplified by recent the high-profile trial and imprisonment of two youth bloggers on hooliganism charges.
In addition to the status of domestic reforms, the group also discussed civil society reactions in Azerbaijan to recent diplomatic initiatives in the Caspian region, including renewed diplomatic efforts to overcome the stalemate over Nagorno-Karabakh.