COUNCIL OF EUROPE IN CRISIS – AZERBAIJANI MP

news.az
Feb 4 2010
Azerbaijan

Rafael Huseynov MP Rafael Huseynov, a member of the Azerbaijani
delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe,
has criticized the council’s work.

"The Council of Europe is one of the most influential international
organizations, in a number of questions it fulfills the UN functions
and I think the Council should avoid double standards and other
factors that undermine its influence. Unfortunately, the Council of
Europe is at present in a state of serious and worsening crisis,"
a member of the Azerbaijani delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe (PACE), Rafael Huseynov, said today.

He said the crisis could be seen in the topics under discussion and
the work of different Council structures.

"The organization is passive in the implementation of resolutions
adopted in previous years. For example, the resolution on the Karabakh
conflict contains several serious demands. Today Armenia is the only
Council member-state that occupies part of the territory of another
Council member-state. Naturally, this causes concern and disappointment
not only in Azerbaijan but also in other Council member-states."

Asked about the frustrated visit to the region of Edward O’Hara, the
Committee on Cultural Heritage’s co-rapporteur on the South Caucasus,
Huseynov said:

"Some time ago Armenia asked the Council of Europe to send O’Hara
to Nakhchivan to study the destruction of ancient Armenian graves
in the cemetery at Julfa, according to the documents presented by
the Armenian side. At that time I also spoke in the committee and
said that because O’Hara is the rapporteur on the South Caucasus, he
should first visit the Armenian-occupied territories of Azerbaijan,
meaning the land where Armenians have destroyed numerous monuments
of Azerbaijani culture, not to mention desecrated cemeteries. I also
said that we have prepared and submitted to the Council of Europe a
special document on this problem.

"At that time it was decided to organize the visit to Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Georgia, but primarily to the occupied lands. However,
Armenia is hampering this plan. On the other hand, O’Hara planned
to visit Karabakh from Armenia. We were against it because this
means disrespect for the sovereignty of Azerbaijan. Karabakh is an
inseparable part of Azerbaijan though it is currently occupied by
Armenia. O’Hara represents an influential international organization
capable of ensuring his security. If Armenian representatives face
no problems in participating in different international events
in Azerbaijan, there will be no hindrances for Council of Europe
representatives visiting one part of Azerbaijan from another, though
it is under occupation."