COUNCIL OF EUROPE TOP OFFICIAL SAYS RELATIONS WITH AZERBAIJAN "EXCELLENT"

Trend news agency
5 Feb 07

Baku, 5 February, Trend correspondent Qasimova: Trend’s exclusive
interview with Council of Europe Secretary-General Terry Davis.

[Correspondent] What is your assessment of the current level of
and prospects for the development of bilateral cooperation with
Azerbaijan? What is your assessment of Azerbaijan’s fulfilment of
the commitments it undertook when it joined the Council of Europe?

[Davis] We have excellent relations, open and ready for
cooperation. Here, at the Council of Europe, we believe in dialogue
and exchange of opinions. We are focused on our relations with the
countries of the South Caucasus which is one of the priority regions
at the moment.

The Council of Europe has a programme for comprehensive cooperation
with Azerbaijan in all main areas. I feel this is already yielding
specific positive results. Certainly, we can make our cooperation
even more effective.

Recently we witnessed a crisis related to the functioning of the media
in Azerbaijan and therefore we think that successes in developing
these relations may be achieved on the basis of freedom of the press
and its correct functioning. We also hope that the judicial system
in the country will improve.

[passage omitted: Davis says Council of Europe membership means
establishment of democracy and human rights protection]

[Correspondent] Many thought of the year 2006 as "a window of
opportunities" for the achievement of progress and signing of a peace
treaty on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. What do you think further
prospects for the conflict settlement are?

[Davis] I think that there always is a window of opportunities when
there is a political desire to resolve the issue. I also understand
that agreement has been achieved on many basic principles [of conflict
resolution]. I can only support the sides [Azerbaijan and Armenia]
in making the crucial step concerning a peace treaty.

It should also be noted that both Azerbaijan and Armenia pledged to
peacefully resolve the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict after they joined
the Council of Europe. That is a mandatory condition.

[Correspondent] The OSCE Minsk Group has been dealing with the
resolution of the conflict for 10 years now but no specific results
have been achieved yet.

Does this not speak of the fact that the OSCE’s opportunities for
the conflict resolution are exhausted, and it is time for other
international organizations, including the Council of Europe, too,
to get actively involved in the issue?

[Davis] First of all, the resolution of the conflict depends on the
two countries. It is in their own interest to resolve the conflict
peacefully. Ever since the Minsk Group showed new dynamism in the
peace process in the past six months, I took interest in why everyone
thinks that the mechanism of resolution should be changed. The OSCE
Minsk group is a connecting link and is very well familiar with all
aspects of this complicated conflict.