Azernews.Az

BAKU – Parliament Speaker Ogtay Asadov expressed Azerbaijan’s concern over the European Parliament’s recent resolution lambasting the country's human rights record in a meeting with its President Jerzy Buzek in Baku on Friday.

"We are seriously concerned over the European Parliament’s resolution and reasons for its passage are still unclear to us," Asadov said.

The resolution, issued in Strasbourg on May 12, condemned what it called the worsening human rights situation in Azerbaijan. The European MPs expressed "deep concern" over the alleged crackdown on opposition protests and blamed the authorities for "increasing harassment" of journalists and political activists. The resolution has drawn fire from Azerbaijani officials and lawmakers, who labeled it as biased.

Asadov said that since gaining independence from the Soviet Union, extensive efforts have been made in Azerbaijan to establish democratic and civil society institutions.

"The country has been independent for just 20 years, and we cannot say that all issues pertaining to democracy have been resolved here. But we are working hard on that and are primarily trying to solve human rights issues."

Asadov termed as unfair the fact that the EP resolution was adopted without Azerbaijan’s input.

"To develop relations between Azerbaijan and the European Parliament, Euronest [the newly established parliamentary assembly of the European Union’s eastern partners] should work hard, and the issues to be discussed at the European Parliament should be mulled there first."

Buzek said after the meeting that Azerbaijan has assumed obligations to the European Parliament and the recent resolution concerned these commitments.

"We have never demanded from Azerbaijan more than the commitments the country has undertaken.

"We respect Azerbaijan’s sovereignty. But the response of Azerbaijani authorities to the April 2 protest runs counter to international documents," Buzek told a news conference.

13 people were detained for two months pending trial following the unauthorized antigovernment rally during which protesters clashed with riot police.

Buzek said the European Parliament and Azerbaijan have common values, including democracy and respect for human rights.

"But we are concerned over some issues of human rights, freedom of assembly and freedom of speech," the EU parliament’s president said.

Regarding the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh, Buzek said the European Parliament supports Azerbaijan's territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders.

"The situation in the region is unfavorable. We are ready to assist in resolving ‘frozen’ conflicts, but as the European Parliament, we are more focused on human rights and freedom of speech."

Besides the parliament speaker, Buzek met with President Ilham Aliyev, representatives of civil society and opposition parties during his one-day visit to Azerbaijan.