OFFICIALS SLAM EUROPEAN MPS

AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
March 9 2006

Tensions remain high over the recent decision by European MPs to
condemn the alleged desecration of graves in the Azeri exclave, as
officials say it was based on false information and could even have
a toll on the EU-Azerbaijan ties.

A presidential administration official has said a number of European
countries are not properly informed of certain issues and blamed
them for a bias. “We stated that the European Parliament’s decision
was unfair. Evidently, they either turn a blind eye to the processes
ongoing in Azerbaijan or have a biased attitude toward them,” said
head of the President’s Office international relations department
Novruz Mammadov.

Mammadov also blamed European MPs for failing to thoroughly study
the areas in question in order to properly assess the situation there.

“Over 1,000 historical and cultural monuments included in UNESCO’s
list have been razed to the ground in the occupied Azeri territories.

If the European Parliament members have been unable to conclude this
by now, this gives them no credit,” Mammadov added. The European
Parliament on February 16 condemned the alleged destruction of
tombstones in the Julfa town located in the Nakhchivan Autonomous
Republic, following Armenians’ groundless claims. A relevant resolution
passed in conclusion of the discussions with 85 voting for and five
against the document said Azerbaijan should provide conditions for
European parliamentarians to visit the territories.

“The document is not based on any facts and is groundless,”
parliament speaker Ogtay Asadov told a parliamentary session last
week. Asadov said he conveyed his opinion to the delegation of
European MPs who have recently visited Azerbaijan. The country,
which is home to people of different ethnic origins and creeds,
has some 3,500 cultural and historical monuments that are cared for
by the state, he said. “We maintain constructive relations with all
international organizations working in the field and will continue
to do so. Armenia, on the contrary, has inflicted damage worth
$7 billion to Azeri cultural heritage as a result of its policy
of occupation.” The speaker continued that historical monuments
belonging to Azerbaijanis and over 1,500 mosques have been destroyed
in Armenia. “At a time of intensifying talks on the Upper (Nagorno)
Garabagh conflict resolution, such a biased decision of the European
Parliament impedes seeking ways out of the problem and casts a shadow
on the EU-Azerbaijan relations.” Asadov said that the legislative body,
which emphasizes its interest in seeing the Garabagh problem resolved,
is hurting its own image among the Azeri public and complicates future
cooperation between the government and the EU.

Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov blamed European MPs for failing to
take into account the data submitted by Azerbaijan and giving in to
the pressures by pro-Armenian groups. The Foreign Ministry ruled out
the possibility of a visit by an international mission to Nakhchivan.

In a letter sent to the European Parliament, it said that examination
of these areas by European MPs under the terms envisioned by the
mentioned resolution is out of the question. The Ministry also cited
concerns over the harsh wording of the document. ‘Independent decision’
The European Parliament’s resolution was not based on the opinion of
member countries but of independent deputies, the coordinator of the
European House in Baku Wolfgang Sporrer has said.

Sporrer said the deputies elected to the legislative body from 25
countries had a free mandate. In other words, they are not subordinated
to the political course of their respective governments.

“Members of the organization cannot be forced to adopt decisions. The
European Parliament makes decisions on a multitude of different
issues and quite often the opinions of its members do not dovetail
with those of their countries,” the diplomat said.