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Mr Donald Tusk

President of the European Council Rue de la Loi 175 1048 Brussels

Mr Jean-Claude Juncker

President of the European Commission Rue de la Loi 200 1049 Brussels

Ms Federica Mogherini

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the European Commission Rue de la Loi 200 1049 Brussels

Mr Johannes Hahn

Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations Rue de la Loi 200 1049 Brussels

February 1, 2017

Dear President Tusk, President Juncker, High Representative / Vice-President Mogherini,

We, the undersigned organizations, are writing in advance of Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyevs upcoming visit to Brussels and meeting with you. We urge you to use this high-level visit to insist that President Aliyev commits to concrete, lasting human rights reforms in Azerbaijan. Insisting on such reforms would help ensure that the EU guides its engagement with Azerbaijan in a manner that honors Article 21 of the Lisbon Treaty, and the EU strategic framework and action plan on democracy and human rights, by fostering democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

President Aliyevs visit takes place following the EU Foreign Affairs Councils authorization of a mandate for negotiating a new partnership agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan. At the same time, the Azerbaijani government restricts the space for independent activism, critical journalism, and opposition political activity by imprisoning and harassing many activists, prominent human rights defenders, and journalists, as well as by adopting laws and regulations restricting the activities of independent groups and their ability to secure funding.

The Azerbaijani authorities are sensitive to concerns from partners such as the EU, as demonstrated by their release of 17 human rights defenders, journalists, and political activists in 2016. Despite this, the authorities continue to keep many other government critics wrongfully imprisoned, and have arrested more political activists and bloggers throughout 2016 and 2017, underscoring that partners can only expect to see meaningful results if they have principled and consistent engagement and set clear benchmarks for sustained reform.

Non-governmental organizations in Azerbaijan face serious obstacles to operating independently due to excessive legal and regulatory restrictions. Cabinet of Ministers regulations issued in January 2017, as part of the governments review of laws regulating NGOs and donors, offer limited prospect for fundamentally improving the operational environment for NGOs. Although the new regulations simplify some procedures for registration of foreign grants, they leave intact the large discretion of the authorities to arbitrarily deny their registration.

Azerbaijan violates its human rights commitments to free speech, assembly and other protections, blatantly ignores the European Court of Human Rights judgment in the Ilgar Mammadov case and blocks all funding to independent civil society organizations by any EU institution. Deepening engagement with a government without securing concrete and sustainable human rights improvements sends a message that these issues are not of concern to the EU and could lead to further deterioration in human rights protection.

In 2015 the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) downgraded Azerbaijans status from member to candidate, due to the inability of civil society to adequately participate in EITI decision-making processes because of the countrys severe restrictions on free speech and free association. In October 2016, after re-assessment, EITI chose not to reinstate Azerbaijans status due to a lack of improvements. The Open Government Partnership voted in May 2016 to downgrade Azerbaijans membership to inactive status, citing the authorities arrests of activists, freezing of NGO bank accounts and restrictions on foreign funding, and other concerns.

We urge the EU and its member states to secure tangible human rights improvements and changes from the government of Azerbaijan at the very outset of negotiations of the new partnership agreement. Any new partnership agreement signed with Azerbaijan should similarly include strong provisions committing the government to upholding universal human rights standards and securing lasting, meaningful human rights reforms.

Doing otherwise would also seriously question the principles set out in the EUs founding principles and in the EUs Strategic Framework on Human Rights and Democracy, as well as the commitments enshrined in the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders and the EU Human Rights Guidelines on Freedom of Expression Online and Offline.

In light of this, in your upcoming meetings with President Aliyev, we urge you to insist on:

We also call upon relevant European Union institutions to abide by their commitments to transparency, including ahead of and during the process of negotiating the new partnership agreement between the European Union and Azerbaijan. Transparency and public scrutiny are fundamental elements of good governance.

We thank you for your attention and remain at your disposal for any further questions.

Sincerely,

Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum

Front Line Defenders

Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF)

Human Rights Watch

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).

International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR)

Center for Civil Liberties, Ukraine

Democracy and Human Rights Resource Center, Azerbaijan

Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center (EMDS), Azerbaijan

Human Rights Club, Azerbaijan

Human Rights Information Center, Ukraine

Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, Ukraine

Legal Education Society, Azerbaijan

Public Association for Assistance to Free Economy, Azerbaijan

NGOs members of the Civic Solidarity Platform:

ARTICLE 19, UK

Crude Accountability, United States

HRM Bir Duino, Kyrgyzstan

Human Rights Monitoring Institute, Lithuania

Centre for the Development of Democracy and Human Rights, Russia

Human Rights Center of Azerbaijan

Index on Censorship, United Kingdom

Institute for Reporters Freedom and Safety (IRFS)

Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law

Macedonian Helsinki Committee

Moscow Helsinki Group

Norwegian Helsinki Committee

Office of civil freedoms, Tajikistan

Promo LEX, Moldova

Public Association Dignity, Kazakhstan

Public Verdict, Russia

The Kosova Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims

The Netherlands Helsinki Committee

The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), Switzerland

Ukraine Helsinki Human Rights Union and Analytical Center for Interethnic Cooperation and Consultations

NGOs members of the Human Rights House Network:

Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House in exile, Vilnius (on behalf of the following NGOs):

Belarus Watch (ByWatch)

Belarusian Association of Journalists

Belarusian Helsinki Committee

City Public Association Centar Supolnasc

Human Rights Centre Viasna

Human Rights House Belgrade (on behalf of the following NGOs):

Belgrade Centre for Human Rights

Lawyers Committee for Human Rights YUCOM

Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia

Educational Human Rights House Chernihiv (on behalf of the following NGOs):

Ahalar

Civic Education Center Almenda

Chernihiv Public Committee of Human Rights Protection

Local Non-governmental Youth organizations R

Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union

Human Rights House Oslo (on behalf of the following NGOs):

Health and Human Rights Info

Human Rights House Foundation

Human Rights House Tbilisi (on behalf of the following NGOs):

Article 42 of the Constitution

Caucasian Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Studies (CAUCASIA)

Georgian Centre for Psychosocial and Medical Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (GRCT)

Human Rights Centre (HRIDC)

Media Institute

Union Sapari

Human Rights House Voronezh (on behalf of the following NGOs):

Charitable Foundation

Civic Initiatives Development Centre

Confederation of Free Labor

For Ecological and Social Justice

Free University

Golos

Interregional Trade Union of Literary Men

Lawyers for labor rights

Memorial

Ms. Olga Gnezdilova

More:
Joint NGO Letter to the European Union Officials - Human Rights Watch (press release)

Brussels: The EU today insisted all parties must fully implement the Minsk ceasefire accords to restore peace in Ukraine, after US President Donald Trump stoked fresh concerns he could take a softer line on Russia.

Trump repeated over the weekend he wanted to work with President Vladimir Putin to fight the Islamic State group, and drew fire from across the US political spectrum by playing down alleged political assassinations in Russia.

The White House also raised eyebrows by referring to "Ukraine's long-running conflict with Russia" -- a framing of the situation that former national security advisor Susan Rice publicly criticised as a "distortion of... Recent history".

Russia annexed the Ukrainian region of Crimea in March 2014 and has supported separatists in the east of the country.

Asked about the US administration's remarks, EU foreign affairs head Federica Mogherini said she could not speculate about their meaning but she was clear what the European Union's position was.

The 28-nation bloc would "continue not to recognise" the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia, Mogherini said as she arrived for an EU foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels. The EU also recognises "the need to fully implement the Minsk agreements, including or starting from a ceasefire and restoring calm to east Ukraine," she said.

"I cannot say where the US administration stands... I can only say where the EU stands on this," Mogherini added. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson stressed there could be no easing of sanctions on Russia until peace was restored in Ukraine.

"The UK will be insisting that there is no case for relaxation of the sanctions, there is every case for keeping up pressure on Russia," Johnson said as he went into the meeting.

He said everyone was concerned by the recent upsurge in fighting between government troops and pro-Moscow rebels in the east.

Russia annexed Crimea after pro-EU protestors ousted pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych, sparking a conflict which has cost nearly 10,000 lives and plunged EU ties with Moscow into a deep freeze.

Trump meanwhile has repeatedly said he wants to improve relations with Putin, appearing to downplay events in Ukraine to the dismay of historic US allies in Europe.

View original post here:
European Union says Ukraine rivals must stick by Minsk accords - Zee News

The presenter talked with Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, and Henry Newman from Open Europe, over the cost of Britain leavingtheEuropean Union.

Speaking on Sunday Politics, the host claimed Theresa May would find it very difficult in the future if she is forced to pay a 30billion bill to the EU.

Mr Grant suggested Brussels is expecting a figure up to the amount of 60bn before admitting it could be considerably lower.

However, host Neil exploded over the huge amounts of money that Britain could be forced to pay as a result of Brexit.

BBC

He said: Am I missing something here? If she ends up settling for a bill of about 30billion, which I think would be politically, no matter how popular she is, politically very difficult for her.

It does kill any idea that there is a Brexit dividend for Britain.

Mr Grant explained how this issue could potentially crash Brexit talks and leave the UK in a very dangerous position.

He said: Well some of what some of the senior officials in London and also Brussels are very worried that this particular issue could crash the whole talks.

GETTY

It may be politically impossible for Theresa May to accept a Brexit bill of 30billion

Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform

Because it may be politically impossible for Theresa May to accept a Brexit bill of 30billion.

If there is no deal and we leave the EU without a settlement then there is massive legal uncertainty.

If Article 50 ended in two years, no deal, what contract law applies, can aeroplanes take off from Heathrow? Nobody knows what legal rights you have if youre an EU citizen living in Britain or visa-versa.

The director added that Brussels believes this puts the EU in a very strong position as the UK prepares to leave.

PA

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Issued by the Supreme Court of (top row, from the left) Lord Neuberger, Lord Mance, Lord Kerr, Lord Sumption, (bottom row, from the left) Lady Hale, Lord Clarke, Lord Wilson and Lord Hodge, who agreed with the majority decision that the Government could not trigger Article 50 without Parliamentary approval.

He added: If there is no deal at the end of two years then we crash out, disastrous for the British economy, bad for the European economy.

Therefore they think they have all the cards to play. And they are very worried that if it is mishandled domestically in Britain then we will have a crash.

The host was left furious over the potential issues that could come if the Prime Minister does not secure a good deal with the European Union.

He finished: We will wait a long time for that 350million a week or whatever it was that was meant to come from Brussels to spend on the NHS, thats not going to happen for the next five, six, seven years.

Continue reading here:
'Am I missing something?' Andrew Neil FUMES over 30bn Brexit bill EU expects UK to pay - Express.co.uk

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) Avalanches in Afghanistan triggered by heavy snowfall across the country have killed at least 119 people in recent days, officials said on Monday.

Wais Ahmad Barmak, the state minister for disaster management and humanitarian affairs, said that at least 89 people have been injured and 190 homes destroyed by avalanches in multiple provinces. Those figures were expected to rise as rescue teams made their way through snow-blocked roads to afflicted areas.

Many of the most recent fatalities come from Nuristan province, near the Pakistani border, where two villages were buried in snow. Barmaks spokesman Omer Mohammadi said rescue teams have so far recovered 48 bodies from those villages and that more than 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) of farmland have been destroyed.

Mohammadi said it would take some time to establish a clear picture of the full extent of the damage.

This will take days for us to clean up all roads covered with snow in different provinces, he said.

On Sunday, Afghanistans government declared a public holiday due to the heavy snowfall across the country.

The United Nations has offered its assistance.

I commend the efforts of the Afghan government that has quickly mobilized to respond to the disaster, said U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Afghanistan Mark Bowden in a statement. The U.N. system stands ready to fully support the Afghan government in responding.

Read more from the original source:
Afghan official: Avalanches in Afghanistan kill at least 119 - The Denver Post

The number of children killed in Afghanistan's conflict rose by 25 percent in 2016, according to the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan.

The 2016 Annual Report on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in Afghanistan, released on Monday, documents an overall 3 percent rise in civilian casualties both deaths and injuries from the previous year.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan attributed the disproportionate spike in child casualties in 2016 mainly to a 66 percent increase in casualties from leftover or discarded munitions. The report states that 923 children in Afghanistan were killed in 2016, a 25 percent increase from the previous year. The number of children injured rose by about 23 percent. Overall it was the highest number of casualties among children ever recorded in a single year by UNAMA.

"Conflict-related violence exacted a heavy toll on Afghanistan in 2016, with an overall deterioration in civilian protection and the highest-total civilian casualties recorded since 2009, when UNAMA began systematic documentation of civilian casualties," the report stated.

It says that between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2016, the mission documented 11,418 civilian casualties 3,498 deaths and 7,920 wounded. That marked a 2 percent decrease in civilian deaths and a 6 percent increase in civilians wounded, amounting to an overall 3 percent increase in casualties compared to 2015.

"This appalling conflict destroys lives and tears communities apart in every corner of Afghanistan," the report quoted Tadamichi Yamamoto, United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, as saying. "Real protection of civilians requires commitment and demonstrated concrete actions to protect civilians from harm and for parties to the conflict to ensure accountability for indiscriminate and deliberate acts of civilian harm."

Associated Press

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Record number of children killed in Afghanistan in 2016, UN says - Chicago Tribune