27/04/2005 (Agence Europe) - The monitoring committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which met in Strasbourg on the sidelines of the plenary session, adopted a declaration on 25 April, in which it expresses its concern at the general political climate prevalent in Azerbaijan at the moment, six months ahead of the general elections. It refers in particular to the lack of media plurality, the harassment of independent journalists and problems related to the electoral code. In a context “which bears no resemblance to that of Georgia or Ukraine, speculations raised (…) by the idea of 'revolution' may have unforeseen consequences”, states the committee, which also stresses that “the elections of November 2005 will be a crucial test for democracy”, especially after the violence and irregularities which accompanied the presidential elections of October 2003 and the serious shortfalls noted at the municipal elections of December 2004.