The Committee of CE Foreign Ministers' Council (permanent...

The Committee of CE Foreign Ministers' Council (permanent representatives of member countries) postponed its decision on the admission of Azerbaijan into the Council of Europe. Some representatives expressed their support for the admission of Azerbaijan into the CE, others did the opposite. Hendrik Vagenmarkes, a representative of Holland took an especially negative stand on the matter. He indicated gross irregularities in the [November 5] parliamentary elections and stated his position against admission of Azerbaijan into the Council of Europe. Other EU countries said that Azerbaijan might be admitted into the CE under condition of monitoring its progress towards democracy. The CE takes decisions by a consensus of votes only.