Asker Alekperov: "Democracy does not imply that a person may hold meetings wherever and however he wants"

-Which measures are undertaken to prevent rise of juvenile delinquency in Azerbaijan?

-In line with the recent statistics, juvenile delinquency has declined as compared with previous years. Nevertheless, being a representative of law enforcement bodies and a citizen of the country, I consider that such facts should be reduced to minimum. In order to prevent such negative facts we should conduct both necessary  measures in the legal sphere and rehabilitation measures to root out juvenile delinquency cases  and prevent the rise in the number of difficult children.

-Recently, the local media has raised the issue of the urgent problem of illegal exploitation of child labor. Has the control been established over this problem and which measures are taken to prevent use of child labor?

-Of course, the control does exist. At the same time, as you know, as year ago UNICEF, OSCE, the Interior Ministry of Azerbaijan as well as alliance of nongovernmental organizations initiated implementation of a joint project on provision of legal assistance to the category of children we were taking before and conduction of due rehabilitation measures for them.

Great deal of work has been done in this direction. A center and clinics on provision of legal assistance to children opened in Baku this week. 15-20 children have been attracted to the process, educational works are being held with them to distract them from the previous activity and return to normal life. By the way, parents of these children were satisfied with their visit to these objects. The said project is so far being realized only in the Narimanov district.

I think in the near future the project will cover the whole Baku, as well as the regions of the country, as children are our future, their today's behavior defines their future. And if a child is inclined to committing a crime at the age of 13-14, he is certainly in need of the timely reeducation to prevent this undesired facts so that a child could return to normal life and become a worthy member of the community.

-Now, let's speak about the problems of elder persons. How can you respond to the announcements of the opposition about violation of the rights of freedom of assembly, especially in the election period?

-I do not think that conditions for conduction of meetings, state of freedom of speech and other liberties are on the level, the opposition speaks about. We have no problems here and all conditions have been created for citizens to conduct meetings. Yet, democracy has definite limits everywhere. Democracy does not imply that a person may conduct meetings wherever and however he wants. All these issues are regulated by the due legislation and it should be observed. If the action complies with the law, it will not be prohibited.

Yet, I would repeat that everything should be in line with the law and someone's demands of liberties should not restrict others' liberties.

-How is the issue of improving material care of law enforcement officials settled this year? Rise in wages for officials of the Interior Ministry is expected this year, if I am not mistaken.

-Right. Certainly, the said issue is regulated by the head of state. On the whole, the rise in wages occurs each year and I think the current economic growth rates observed in the country allow to hopr for the positive resolution of this issue.

/Day.Az/