Azernews.Az

Azerbaijan has achieved considerable progress in its cooperation with Europe on political dialogue, a member of the Azerbaijani delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has said.

"Azerbaijan has succeeded in political dialogue with Europe, harmonization of legal systems, and cooperation in economic, public, and cultural spheres. Azerbaijan has become a strategic partner in the provision of energy security of Europe," MP Elkhan Suleymanov said at the international conference "Building Bridges", organized by the Association for Civil Society Development in Azerbaijan (ACSDA) and the Institute for European Affairs (INEA).

According to Suleymanov, the title of the conference indicates that Azerbaijan is interested in building the bridges of friendship and cooperation with European and world countries. Therefore, Azerbaijan has made comprehensive integration into Europe a priority.

At the same time, the MP said, visa liberalization, development of various EU educational programs in Azerbaijan, as well as exchange of students and professors, joint scientific research, high-level organization of sporting events in Azerbaijan, such as the ongoing FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, are "evidence of the rapprochement of our people and societies".

According to Suleymanov, Azerbaijan has repeatedly proven to be Europe's reliable partner.

"We are a young democracy, but we confidently and willingly integrate into Europe. Moreover, Azerbaijan rightfully wants to be deemed an equal partner in cooperation and partnership relations," the MP said.

Suleymanov stressed with regret that Azerbaijan faces double standards and discrimination on some issues instead of an objective attitude and being treated as an equal partner. He condemned the long-standing occupation of a part of the country's territory by neighboring Armenia.

"The Nagorno Karabakh tragedy -- this is not a conflict, but an armed aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan and occupation of Azerbaijani territories. They're aggressors, and we're subject to this aggression. International organizations, as well as European institutions, have recognized these facts and adopted resolutions on an unconditional withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories and reinstatement of the rights of internally displaced people [ousted from their homes during the 1990s war] to return to their homes and live safely. Nevertheless, the decisions of international organizations on the occupation remind yellow papers in the archives of these organizations," Suleymanov said.

The MP said there have been no results of the efforts by the mediating OSCE Minsk Group, which has been dealing with the settlement of the conflict for 20 years.

"At present, the Armenians act aggressively in the world. Their strength is due to the fact that international organizations keep silent and in most cases defend them unfairly."

Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a precarious cease-fire in 1994. Armenian armed forces have since occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno Karabakh, defying international calls and UN resolutions.

Suleymanov also said the discrimination and double standards towards Azerbaijan in European institutions are seen as regards the issue of so-called political prisoners as well. Since Azerbaijan became a member of the Council of Europe, within 47 member states this issue has been raised only with respect to Azerbaijan.