Azernews.Az

By Ayya Lmahamad

President Ilham Aliyev has said that the Council of Europe could play the role of a platform that could contribute to the establishment of an integrated South Caucasus region.

He made the remarks while receiving a delegation led by Council of Europe Secretary-General Marija Pejcinovic Buric on April 4.

“The Council of Europe could also play the role of a platform that could contribute to the process of building confidence between the two countries and the establishment of an integrated South Caucasus region,” he said.

During the meeting, the president briefed the secretary-general on the new regional situation, Azerbaijan’s proposals to normalize relations with Armenia, as well as the current situation in the country's liberated lands.

He underlined that 3,890 Azerbaijanis had been missing since the first Armenia-Azerbaijan war. In this regard, he stressed the importance of Armenia’s providing information on the location of Azerbaijani mass graves.

The president said that Azerbaijan was suffering greatly as a result of the mine crisis in the liberated territories. He added that over 200 people had been killed or injured by landmines since November 10, 2020 statement.

Aliyev stressed that during the 44-day Patriotic War, Azerbaijan had rigorously adhered to the basic principles of international humanitarian law. However, the head of state said that Armenia perpetrated several war crimes throughout the war, including firing rockets onto Azerbaijani cities during military operations, killing over 100 people, including children and women.

Moreover, the president said that he was pleased to see Marija Pejcinovic Buric in Azerbaijan as the Council of Europe secretary-general and recalled her visit to Azerbaijan in April 2019 as Croatian deputy prime minister and minister of foreign and European affairs, as well as the meetings held during the visit. He also recalled his time as head of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE.

Stressing the importance of developing Azerbaijan’s cooperation with the Council of Europe on the basis of constructive dialogue, Aliyev noted that consistent steps have been taken to modernize the country’s legal framework within its Council of Europe membership.

In turn, expressing her satisfaction with the visit to Azerbaijan, Marija Pejcinovic Buric said that Azerbaijan's membership in the Council of Europe was highly appreciated and that the country had joined many Council of Europe conventions and relevant documents within the membership process and work is still underway in this regard.

The secretary-general also praised Azerbaijan’s political resolve in the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict. She noted that the Council of Europe was ready to play the role of a platform in the process of normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and building trust between the two countries' societies.

Additionally, during the meeting, it was noted with satisfaction that the Action Program between Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe covering 2022-2025 would be adopted. The sides noted that this program envisaged cooperation in a number of areas. They also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.

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