To His Excellency Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations Organization - Baku, July 5, 1999

Esteemed Secretary General!

Seizing the opportunity, I express you my profound gratitude for Your eagerness to achieve such a high idea like protection of main human rights and freedoms fixed in the Universal declaration of Human Rights, as well as for your appreciation of permanent adherence of our country to the goals of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

At the same time I consider it necessary to note that the Republic of Azerbaijan together with progressive mankind takes an active part in the events aimed at implementation of the regulations of the Universal Declaration.

The Republic of Azerbaijan that achieved state sovereignty, declared its adherence to the democratic principles and respect of main human rights and freedoms.

The Republic of Azerbaijan, implementing the goals and objectives of the Universal Declaration, joined 125 international conventions, including multilateral agreements in the field of protection of human rights - "International pact on economic, social and cultural rights", "International pact on civil and political rights", "International convention on elimination of all forms of racial discrimination", "Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment", "Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women" and "Convention on the rights of the child".

For the first time in the East, the Republic of Azerbaijan adopted a law abolishing the death penalty on 10 February, 1998 in order to promote the rights to life fixed in the international agreements in the field of human rights and in the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In 11 December, 1998 our country joined the optional protocol of "International pact on civil and political rights" aimed at abolition of death penalty.

In order to provide and protect the main human and civil rights and freedoms in the Republic of Azerbaijan the appropriate laws, decrees and orders of the President were adopted, including Laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan "About freedom of information", "About right to freedom of assembly", Decrees of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan "About measures for providing of the freedom of speech, thought and information in the Republic of Azerbaijan", "About supplementary measures for providing of the freedom of speech, thought and information in the Republic of Azerbaijan", orders the Republic of Azerbaijan "About celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human rights of the United Nations Organization", "About approval of the state program on human rights protection" and other standard and legal acts.

Actually, a number of bills in the field of human rights are under preparation with the support of international organizations.

Our country highly appreciates and constantly promotes the cooperation in the field of human rights protection with authoritative international organizations, including the Office of the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights.

It must be especially emphasized the importance of the draft document on the strengthening of the potential and creation of the infrastructure for development and protection of human rights signed between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights 18 August 1998.

Different manuals and training appliances in the field of human rights were published in the course of the last years in Azeri language in the course of the last years.

Along with all regulations of the Universal Declaration, the Republic of Azerbaijan completely supports the regulations fixed in the Article30 and exerts every effort for their realization.

Along with all abovementioned, we would like to draw the attention of the world community and the United Nations Organization to the fact of ousting of more than a million of our countrymen from the territory of their permanent residence in the Republic of Armenia and the occupied territories of Azerbaijan in the result of the aggression of Armenia, the ethnic purge and discrimination and related with this mass violation of human rights and freedoms.

Mentioning all this and following the goal to restore the violated rights and freedoms of Azerbaijanis, ousted from their homelands, I call upon You to activate your efforts for liberation of occupied Azerbaijani territories, soon return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their homelands, I call upon You to support the legitimate interests of Azerbaijani people.

Sincerely Yours,

 
Heydar Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.