Azernews.Az

The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Jean-Claude Mignon met on May 27 with leaders of Azerbaijani political parties in the Milli Mejlis (Parliament).

Azerbaijan is interested in expanding relations with the Council of Europe, deputy secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party Mubariz Gurbanly said at the meeting. He stressed that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to cooperation with PACE.

Chairman of the Democratic Reforms Party (DRP) Asim Mollazade said the Council of Europe is an important organization and a good school for Azerbaijan. This organization should continue supporting the activities undertaken by the mediating OSCE Minsk Group with regards to the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Mollazade said.

According to chairman of the Civil Solidarity Party (CSP) Sabir Rustamkhanly, there has been no progress in the settlement of regional conflicts.

Stressing that the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the most important issue for Azerbaijan, Rustamkhanly said that Armenia has always been a tool in the hands of Russia against states willing to acquire independence. Naming the Minsk Group as a tourism organization, he accused its members of inactivity.

Azerbaijan has no territorial claims to any state, unlike Armenia that has territorial claims to neighboring states, chairman of the Adalat Party Ilyas Ismailov said at the meeting. He said he did not believe in the activities of the Minsk Group, adding that the statements of the members of the group are advisory in nature.

Ismailov also said Azerbaijan wants to liberate the occupied lands through other options.

Democratization of the region means the restoration of peace, leader of the Umid Party Iqbal Aghazadeh said, referring to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"The achievement of an armistice and peace may only be based on international principles," he stressed.

During the discussion, Aghazadeh also stressed the importance of expanding cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe under the laws and mechanisms of its implementation.

Armenia has begun to chair the Council of Europe and, using this, will act according to its interests, chairman of the Ana Vatan Party Fazail Agamaly said during the meeting. Discussion of any issue, corresponding to self-interest of the aggressor, is not allowed in the international community.

"This attempt of Armenia is perceived as a breach of trust rendered by the Council of Europe," Agamaly said.

Chairman of the Party of Social Welfare Khanhuseyn Kyazymly said the ongoing conflicts lead to serious losses by the parties to the conflict. He recalled that one of the important tasks for the Council of Europe and the whole mankind is the establishment of peace.

Obviously, the policy of peace has come to a standstill, head of the Great Establishment Party Fazil Mustafa said. Chairmanship of the aggressor state in such a structure as the Council of Europe does not meet any standards of conduct, he said, adding that the chairman of the PACE must demonstrate a specific position on the issue.

The PACE chairman Mignon said the organization is ready to contribute to closer cooperation with Azerbaijan.