AZERBAIJANI PARLIAMENT TO ADOPT PROTEST STATEMENT ON EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT’S RESOLUTION

Trend
Dec 25 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani MPs consider necessary protests against a recent European
Parliament resolution.

"The structure adopted a resolution to pressure Azerbaijan in the
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," Parliamentary Speaker
Ogtay Asadov said.

MEPs are concerned over the deteriorating state of press freedom
in Azerbaijan and denounce the arrest, prosecution and conviction
of opposition journalists, reads the resolution posted on the
organization’s official Web site Dec. 17.

He said the Armenian diaspora played a special role in adopting
the resolution. Asadov proposed introducing a protest statement on
this issue.

"The European Parliament’s resolution is groundless," Vice Speaker
Valeh Alasgarov said. "It is surprising that so far the European
Parliament has not adopted any resolution concerning the Azerbaijani
people that became refugees and IDPs due to Armenia’s policy of
invasion. "

He added that parliament should show its position toward the European
Parliament’s resolution.

"We should work with friendly, as well as unfriendly forces to
avoid the introduction of such resolutions," International and
Inter-Parliamentary Relations Commission Chairman Samad Seyidov said.