WALTER SCHWIMMER: "COUNCIL OF EUROPE DOES NOT APPLY DOUBLE STANDARDS TOWARDS AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA"

Today.Az
June 17 2008
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with Walter Swimmer, chairman of the International
coordination committee of the world public forum "Dialogue of
civilizations" and former CE Secretary General.

– What do you expect from the upcoming presidential elections in
Azerbaijan, to be held in October?

– I hope the elections will meet international standards, the standards
of the Council of Europe and OSCE-organizations joined by Azerbaijan. I
think Azerbaijan has passed a long and complicated way towards this
goal. There has been a number of problems in the past, but next year
Azerbaijan will mark the 8th anniversary of its membership in the
Council of Europe and more is expected from him in comparison with
new CE member-states in conduction of the electoral process in line
with international law.

– You have mentioned that Azerbaijan has been the CE member-state
for already the 8th year. Are the changes in the country on the way
to democratic development significant?

– Sure. Azerbaijan was admitted to the Council of Europe during my
chairmanship over the organization in 2001. My task was to assist
Azerbaijan in fulfilling its commitments. I know that there is a
number of concerns, related to mass media and freedom of speech. I
think the forthcoming presidential elections will be a good chance
for Azerbaijan to demonstrate loyalty to democratic values, including
such as freedom of speech, to Europe and the world.

– Baku accuses the CE of application of the policy of "double
standards" towards its member-states, implying regular criticism of
Azerbaijan for various problems in the sphere of human rights and
at the same time passive reaction of Strasbourg to mass violence
and murders, accompanying the post-election period in Armenia this
year. How can you explain this?

– First of all, I do not share a view that the Council of Europe did
not give adequate response to the events, which occured in Armenia
following the elections. I remember a critical statement on the
elections in this country.

Second, death of people resulting from violence is tragic indeed and
is absolutely inadmissible. Political violence, related to elections,
is inadmissible for today’s Europe.

At the same time, we have witnessed violent actions before
parliamentary elections in Macedonia, this was violence between
rival powers. On the other side, authorities should be blamed for
the failure of the police to avert this violence, on the other side,
we do not want dominance of the police.

Unfortunately, no one is insured of various violations of human rights,
but if elections are accompanied by violations, this proves involvement
of the authorities.

I think violence in one country should not justified by violence in
another country. Each country should take steps for full execution
of its commitments.

Therefore, I hope elections in Azerbaijan will not be an object of
criticism this year.

– Are you sure that CE approaches to Azerbaijan and Armenia have
no differences?

– Yes, I do not think there are double standards there. The Council
of Europe tries to avoid such a policy, all member-states are equal
before the criticism. Democracy has no place for violence.