Azeri opposition MPs accuse EU of “double standards”

Lider TV, Baku
20 Apr 05

[Presenter] Strange as it may seem to Marie [Anne] Isler Beguin,
head of the EU parliamentary delegation, every Azerbaijani citizen
is concerned about the Nagornyy Karabakh problem. The European
MPs have been criticized by opposition MPs as well. The opposition
MPs reiterated that the most important issue for Azerbaijan is the
resolution of the Nagornyy Karabakh problem.

[Correspondent] The parliament’s opposition faction shares a
common position. They expressed their dissatisfaction with the EU
demonstrating a similar attitude towards Azerbaijan and Armenia.

[MP Camil Hasanli from the reformist wing of the opposition People’s
Front of Azerbaijan Party] If the aggressor is not named, this
negatively affects ordinary citizens. Double standards like this are
becoming a serious stumbling block to Azerbaijan’s integration into
the West.

[Passage omitted: Azerbaijani MPs accuse the EU of failing to recognize
Armenia as an aggressor]

After this, Ms Beguin launched an attack with questions. She asked
if the Azerbaijani opposition had a clear platform on the Karabakh
settlement.

And the answers were also specific. The entire world knows that
Armenia has occupied Azerbaijani territories using Russian weapons.
But the EU has not yet expressed its position regarding the aggressor,
the Azerbaijani MPs said.

[Passage omitted: minor details]

The final statement came from the Compatriot Party leader, Mais
Safarli. If the situation does not change, we will have to start a
war. But if we are compelled to liberate our territories in a military
way, we will not keep a single Armenian in Nagornyy Karabakh, Safarli
replied when Beguin asked if the opposition wanted a war.