From 5-7 May the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Mr Thomas Hammarberg, will travel to Azerbaijan to attend the international conference of Ombudspersons "The development prospects and state of cooperation to improve Human Rights protection" in Baku. The event organised by the Azerbaijani Ombudsperson E. Suleymanova will bring together members of the National Parliament (Milli Majlis), representatives of government agencies, Ombudsmen from over 20 subjects of the Russian Federation.
Whilst in Baku, the Commissioner will meet with various national authorities in order to establish contacts and discuss the current human rights situation in Azerbaijan. The Commissioner will meet the President of Azerbaijan, Mr Ilham Aliyev, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis, Mr Ogtay Asadov, and members of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE, the Minisiter for Foreign Affairs, Mr Elmar Mammadyarov, and the Minister of Justice, Mr Fikrat Mammadov. The Commissioner will discuss the situation of refugees and IDPs with the Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the State Committee on Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP's), Mr. Ali Hasanov. The Commissioner will also meet NGO and civil society representatives.