Azerbaijani delegation walks out of PACE session

The Azerbaijani delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has announced that it is suspending its cooperation with PACE and walking out of the session in Strasbourg, France, to protest the double standards applied against them.

ARMENIA ISSUE TENSIONS THE ASSEMBLY

In a statement issued by the Azerbaijani delegation, it was stated that PACE applies double standards toward Azerbaijan, noting, "The main purpose of PACE is to be a platform for dialogue between parliamentarians of different countries based on mutual respect and equal rights. For 19 years, from 2001 to 2020, PACE did not condemn the occupying state of Armenia for its actions contrary to the fundamental values and principles of the Council of Europe. We are talking about a clear disrespect for the human rights of Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced persons who were subjected to ethnic cleansing here.

For nearly 20 years, while the Azerbaijani delegation raised the severe consequences of the Armenian occupation, we were told that PACE was not the right format to discuss issues related to the conflict. Now, the same PACE and those parliamentarians are saying the exact opposite and are missing no opportunity to attack Azerbaijan."

COOPERATION BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND PACE SUSPENDED INDEFINITELY

"The selective interpretation of international law and different approaches to issues regarding the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states reveal the hypocritical nature of those who prepared this shameful proposal. No one can speak to Azerbaijan in the language of threats and blackmail. Never in the history of PACE has this organization engaged in such shameful behavior. In the face of the current unbearable racism, anti-Azerbaijani, and anti-Islamic atmosphere in PACE, the Azerbaijani delegation has decided to suspend its cooperation and participation in PACE indefinitely," the statement read.

"RESPONSIBILITY FOR IRREVERSIBLE CONSEQUENCES WILL REST WITH THOSE WHO PROPOSED THE MOTION"

Emphasizing that the PACE proposal to refuse to ratify the credentials of the Azerbaijani delegation is part of a dirty campaign, the statement said, "We consider this initiative by PACE a deliberate and unacceptable attempt to interfere in the process of the Azerbaijani presidential elections scheduled for February 7. The proposal to refuse to ratify our delegation's credentials will deal a serious blow to the credibility and impartiality of the Council of Europe as a whole, and the responsibility for its serious and irreversible consequences will rest entirely with those who proposed this motion."

COMPLAINT AGAINST AZERBAIJAN AT PACE

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe's Monitoring Committee has recommended the implementation of the strictest possible restrictions against Azerbaijan. As a result of the decision taken, it is expected that Azerbaijan will be recommended for suspension from PACE for at least one year. It was reported that the official complaint against Azerbaijan is related to the fact that PACE observers were not invited to the presidential elections to be held in Azerbaijan next month. Complaints that Azerbaijan did not allow PACE observers into the Lachin corridor are also among the factors influencing the decision.

News Source: 12punto