A/HRC/24/13 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007, held its sixteenth session from 22 April to 3 May 2013. The review of Azerbaijan was held at the 14th meeting on 30 April 2013. The delegation of Azerbaijan was headed by Khalaf Khalafov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan. At its 17th meeting held on 02 May 2013, the Working Group adopted the report on Azerbaijan. 2. On 14 January 2013, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Azerbaijan: Libya, Maldives and Peru. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to resolution 16/21, the following documents were issued for the review of Azerbaijan: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/16/AZE/1); (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/16/AZE/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/16/AZE/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Armenia, Ireland, Mexico, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Azerbaijan through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the universal periodic review (UPR). I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The head of the Azerbaijani delegation stated that Azerbaijan highly appreciated the contribution of the Human Rights Council and the universal periodic review to the promotion and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms. He reiterated Azerbaijan’s openness and willingness towards comprehensive cooperation with the Council and its mechanisms. 6. Azerbaijan emphasized that the guarantee of human rights and freedoms is proclaimed as the highest goal of the State in the Constitution of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is a party to the fundamental international human rights treaties. According to article 148 of the Constitution, the international treaties to which Azerbaijan is a party constitute an integral part of Azerbaijan’s legislative system, and article 151 states that in case of a possible contradiction between normative legal acts of Azerbaijan and the international treaties to which Azerbaijan is a party, the provisions of international treaties shall apply. Human rights and freedoms have direct force in Azerbaijan. In the framework of current trends in international relations, the promotion and protection of human rights are provided on the basis of the supremacy of international law. In this connection, Azerbaijan stressed the occupation of 20 per cent of Azerbaijan’s territory by the Republic of Armenia, 3