COUNCIL OF EUROPE BACKS OSCE ON KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS

news.az
April 29 2010
Azerbaijan

Thomas Hammarberg The Council of Europe’s human rights commissioner
has reiterated that it is the role of the OSCE Minsk Group to mediate
a Karabakh settlement.

Thomas Hammarberg was asked about the issue yesterday at the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

A member of the Azerbaijani delegation, Ganira Pashayeva, asked:
‘The basic rights of the Azerbaijanis, who were displaced as a result
of the occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia, have been
violated. These people have not been able to return to their native
lands for 15 years and want help from the Council of Europe. Can the
Council of Europe take steps so that these people return to their
native lands? Armenia has been violating their rights for 15 years.’

Commissioner Hammarberg replied: ‘The right of these people to return
is one of the basic and very significant rights. In any case efforts
should be made to gain these rights. There should be a sensitive
attitude towards people, who long for their native lands.

‘During my visit to Azerbaijan I felt positive improvements. But the
main problem of the displaced persons – their return – is still on
the agenda. Unfortunately, it has become a political issue, rather
one of human rights protection. I wish the problem were solved, but,
as I have said, the resolution of this political issue is in the
hands of the [OSCE] Minsk Group. The Council of Europe commissioner
for human rights has very few opportunities to bring any pressure to
bear on this issue. I hope the conflict will be solved in the near
future and justice will win with respect to these people.’

Hammarberg had earlier presented his report on human rights in 2009
to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. He raised the
spectre of the economic crisis and a resulting rise in extremism in
his speech and report.

Talking about the published conclusions in his report, he said:
"Some of these are of course controversial and may sometimes irritate
some of the readers – and that is as it must be. Truth telling is an
integral part of honest human rights work.’

Other issues he raised included the failure of the European Union to
coordinate its migration and refugee policies and protecting children
in minority communities. "When I have pleaded that rich European
countries should not deport Roma migrants to Kosovo, I have been
thinking about the children among them,’ he added.

The report does not cover specific Azerbaijani issues.