PACE rejects report on alleged political prisoners in Azerbaijan
By Nigar Orujova
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly co-rapporteur Christopher Strasser's report on so-called "political prisoners" in Azerbaijan has not been adopted at PACE. After heated debate, 125 members voted against the resolution, with 79 supporting it.
Two reports on Azerbaijan were submitted for discussion at the PACE plenary session on Wednesday.
One of the reports, which deals with Azerbaijan's fulfilling its obligations, had been prepared by the co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee Pedro Agramunt and Joseph Debono Grech. The other report was prepared by Christopher Strasser in connection with so-called political prisoners in Azerbaijan.
According to PACE Vice President and head of the Azerbaijani parliamentary delegation, Samad Seyidov, Strasser's report is detrimental to European values.
"I want to tell Armenian colleagues speaking before me that instead of criticizing Azerbaijan, let them free over 65 young people who refused to participate in the Nagorno-Karabakh war and who are on the list of the Helsinki Civil Watch. I have been with the CoE for 12 years already. This is the first time I see that two reports on the same topic are submitted to the Assembly for discussion in different forms," Seyidov said.
Seyidov said, however, that Azerbaijan respects the report of the Monitoring Committee, even though it is critical.
"I do not agree with some points in the report, but one should cooperate with the Monitoring Committee and discuss the problems. This is our duty," he said.
Christopher Strasser in his remarks noted that PACE appointed a co-rapporteur on the so-called political prisoners in Azerbaijan in 2009. The issue has been discussed in the Assembly four times since 2001.
In this regard, the Assembly passed two resolutions and one recommendation in 2004 and 2005. However, the issue cannot be considered a closed subject, Strasser said, asking his colleagues to support the report.
Co-rapporteur Pedro Agramunt, speaking about the report on Azerbaijan's obligations, said it was approved at the Monitoring Committee meeting in Paris in December 2012. After Wednesday's meeting it will be submitted for discussion with a few changes.
Agramunt regarded the discussed report as balanced and urged his colleagues to support it. Although 13 changes to the report were proposed, the co-rapporteurs did not adopt them, because the report was accepted by all, he said.
French Senator Jean-Marie Bockel said at the hearing of the two reports on Azerbaijan that Strasser's report on Azerbaijan is biased and incomplete.
"Of course, today I am not against the government of Azerbaijan's taking determined steps towards development in accordance with the criteria adopted by our organization. At the same time, I am against emergence of a very negative opinion about Azerbaijan. I would like to draw attention to some issues," Bockel said.
First of all, the country's economic potential contributes to democratic development, he said.
"This fact is a catalyst for political changes," Bockel said. He said further, "For example, at the expense of oil revenues roads and schools are overhauled. This fact has been an indicator of development in the past 10 years. This also allows Azerbaijani people to receive more fruit from prosperity, which contributes to the establishment of democracy."