Azerbaijani gov't regrets European Parliament resolution
By Nigar Orujova
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has expressed regret that discussions of the "Azerbaijan: Ilgar Mammadov's issue" were conducted with the participation of a group of European Parliament members and a so-called resolution was adopted following the discussions, on June 14.
"Unfortunately, a group of MEPs, often gathering people who are not disinterested in this issue, puts forward various issues on Azerbaijan for discussions and make wrong statements," the statement said.
"The democratic values are considered as the main principles in Europe. Adopting an official document in Europe on the basis of 20-30 people's positions of 754 members contradicts the principles of democracy. This is at least a violation of the rights of the absolute majority of the European Parliament," the Ministry noted.
According to the Ministry, Azerbaijan is loyal to the preservation of such universal values as democracy, human rights and freedom. Azerbaijan has always improved the legislation and carried out appropriate reforms by cooperating with the EU in this area since the early years of its independence. This process is still underway.
It is stressed that the expression of the citizen's protests only in a certain legal framework is a principle adopted throughout Europe. Making adequate actions in response to attempts to call to rebellion in the country and to civil disobedience is not contrary to the legal principles of a progressive society.
According to the statement, it is not the first time when the European Parliament shows a bias position towards Azerbaijan. Similar situations were observed earlier. In most cases, these MEPs do fully examine the discussed issues and the opinion of the opposite side, but give preference to certain selfish opinions.
"This attitude does not contribute to the comprehensive cooperation with the EU," the statement said. "Such actions testify to the fact that these cases are politicized and serve different interests when Azerbaijani - EU relations can move to a new level. At the same time, the European Parliament turns a blind eye to the events in Europe itself and the military-political processes in the South Caucasus. The form of the document is not consistent with the spirit of the bilateral relations and is unacceptable for Azerbaijan as a sovereign subject of international law."
The European Parliament is considering democracy, justice and human rights as important universal values. However, it has never expressed a fair position. It has not made any statement on the occupation of Azerbaijani territory continuing for more than 20 years, almost a million refugees and internally displaced persons, whose rights were completely violated, the statement said.
"But one take into account that Azerbaijan is an independent country, conducting the independent internal and external policy," the statement said. "The actions of certain circles aimed at striking at Azerbaijan's international image, raise questions. Such an attitude of some representatives of the European Parliament and exerting pressure by these actions are unacceptable."
The European Parliament's resolution calls on Azerbaijani authorities for immediate release of Ilgar Mammadov, the leader of the opposition REAL movement and the Director of the Baku School of Political Studies of the Council of Europe, together with Tofiq Yaqublu, the deputy chairman of the opposition party Musavat from prison and calls on Azerbaijani authorities to ensure a speedy, fair, transparent and independent investigation of the charges.
Fuad Aleskerov, Head of the Department for Work with Law-Enforcement Bodies of the Presidential Administration, said to the local press the document, another exercise in demagoguery which occurred after the majority of MEP departed, can only harm the credibility of the organization. Moreover, it will definitely not contribute to the strengthening of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union.
"I think we are dealing with a sort of "spring-summer aggravation" of anti-Azerbaijani moods of certain groups in the organization. Previous slanderous resolution against our country was adopted at the end of May last year, during the Baku Eurovision Song Contest Eurovision 2012," he said.
The fact that the current resolution is also a result of work of the interest groups in the European Parliament, is not manner of doubt. "It's enough to find a list of members who attended and spoke during the discussion of the draft resolution. These are the same MPs, who took an active part in the preparation and adoption of previous resolutions on Azerbaijan," Aleskerov believes.