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Qabil Ashirov

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The relations between Azerbaijan and PACE are deteriorating due to the latter's biased and too-pro-Armenian attitude. It has been so obvious that even the member states within the European Union do not believe in its sincerity. Turning a blind eye to thirty years of violations of the rights of Azerbaijanis, Kurds, and Meskhetian Turks and suddenly remembering human rights right after Azerbaijan's reclaiming its territorial integrity just causes irony.

PACE claims that Azerbaijan supposedly violates human rights. However, Azerbaijan has been developing its institutions through reforms. However, until September last year, PACE had never had such a strict attitude and made such claims against Azerbaijan. Right after anti-terrorist measures conducted by Azerbaijan in September 2023, PACE started voicing the violation of human rights and speaking about the sanctions.

Here poses a question: If Azerbaijan has violated human rights, why PACE waited so long?

The constant and continued unfriendly and nonprofessional attitude of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) against Azerbaijan’s government and its people has now forced it to suspend its cooperation with it, which has deteriorated relations with Brussels.

Speaking to Azernews, Dr. Mehmood ul Hassan Khan noted that unfortunately, the PACE has been supporting Armenia, the real culprit of humanity, genocide, and ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijan, for its justified, legitimate, and prudent diplomatic, political, and economic measures for its country and people alike.

He pointed out that the comedy of error started with Germany’s Frank Schwabe challenging the credentials of the Azerbaijani delegation on the opening day of PACE’s 2024 winter session.

“Schwabe intentionally raised concerns about so-called political prisoners in Azerbaijan and cited the “violent displacement of people” from Garabagh. To be honest, it is politically unrealistic, diplomatically untrue, legally false, and administratively fake propaganda of the PACE. It is indeed the whims and wishes of the PACE and some of its member countries, like Germany, France, Spain, etc., that have been targeting Azerbaijan and its policies to protect their own vested interests.

On its part, the Azerbaijan delegation stated that the core principles of the PACE are exploited by certain biased groups to advance their narrow interests. It further charged that "political corruption, discrimination, ethnic and religious hatred, double standards, arrogance, and chauvinism have become prevailing practices in the PACE, which has been creating hype and smearing Azerbaijan,” Mehmoud ul Hassan Khan said.

The pundit noted that it seems to be a politically motivated move by the PACE, which is biased, prejudiced, and self-centric, promoting politics of isolation, discrimination, exploitation, and marginalisation. However, being a sovereign country, Azerbaijan has the right to defend its people, policies, and plans of self-reliance, national dignity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

He stressed that the delegation rightly accused the PACE of exhibiting “Azerbaijanophobia and Islamophobia" and termed it an “unbearable atmosphere.”. Thus, Azerbaijan’s current decision to leave the PACE comes amid growing tensions with the European Union as Baku accuses Brussels of “bias” towards Yerevan, a wise decision.

“Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on January 10 rejected a proposal by Armenia to use Soviet-era maps drawn in the 1970s to delineate borders, claiming that Azerbaijani territories had been handed to Armenia by the Soviet authorities.

EU foreign policy Chief Josep Borrell criticised Aliyev’s territorial claims on January 22 and warned that there would be “severe consequences” if Armenia’s territorial integrity was violated.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said Borrell’s comments amounted to a “blatant misinterpretation of facts” and accused the chief EU diplomat of engaging in ‘threatening rhetoric,’” the pundit said.

Mehmoud ul Hassan pointed out that it fears that PACE and its member countries will have to face energy insecurity after Azerbaijan’s decision to suspend relations with it. Most recently, the PACE did not ratify the credentials of the Azerbaijani delegation, citing concerns about the country’s failure to fulfill major commitments related to so-called democratic processes, human rights, and the Garabagh situation. Azerbaijan has subsequently suspended its cooperation with PACE.

“There is a possibility of strained relations between Baku and Brussels. Besides having significant consequences for the energy market, such a development may create an opening for Moscow to enhance its influence in Azerbaijan. Brussels designates Baku as a key strategic partner for natural gas imports following the onset of the Ukraine conflict.

Azerbaijan is playing a pivotal role in the EU energy security framework. In the complex geopolitical dynamics between several European countries, Brussels and Baku, the significance of Ankara should not be overlooked.

It is suggested that serious diplomatic efforts should be started to lead to a de-escalation of tensions between Azerbaijan and the European institution. Both parties resume cooperation, addressing concerns and working towards a mutually beneficial relationship,” Dr. Mehmoud ul Hassan Khan concluded.

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Qabil Ashirov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @g_Ashirov

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