COUNCIL OF EUROPE APPLIES DOUBLE STANDARDS: TURKISH DELEGATION TO PACE
Trend News Agency
Jan 29 2009
Azerbaijan
The Council of Europe applies double standards toward member nations,
head of Turkey’s delegation to PACE Movlud Chavushoglu told Trend News.
Chavushoglu’s statement concerned the discussions about Armenia at
PACE’s winter session.
The Council of Europe applies double standards not only toward the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, but also Russian-Georgian relations
and Turkey.
"During today’s discussions about Armenia, we saw PACE’s double
standards," Chavushoglu said. "Although the human rights and political
freedoms situation is worse in Armenia than Azerbaijan, PACE takes
a tough stance on Azerbaijan and a soft position on Armenia. This is
a double standard."
Existing challenges must be resolved to reach stability and cooperation
in the region. The main issue is Armenia’s occupation of 20 percent
of Azerbaijani territory, he said.
Chavushoglu does not believe that the UN and Council of Europe
resolution to end Armenia’s aggressive policies will contribute to
resolving the conflict.
"We do not believe that this challenge can be resolved by OSCE Minsk
Group resolutions. Turkey and regional countries must display their
own initiatives in this respect," Chavushoglu said.
Russia has also started to be proactive in resolving the conflict.
Chavushoglu said although some political forces seem alarmed by the
supposedly improving Turkish-Armenian relations, their actions should
be taken with a grain of salt.
"Certain political forces in Turkey and Azerbaijan use this issue for
political purposes within the country," Chavushoglu said. "During his
visit to Yerevan, President Abdullah Gul did not discuss the issues of
the so-called ‘genocide’ and opening borders with Turkey. The sides
discussed withdrawing Armenian troops from the occupied territories
in Azerbaijan and resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict." He added
that Ankara’s policy on the issue serves the interests of Azerbaijan
and Turkey.
The recent improvement in Turkish-Russian relations also does not
contradict the Turkish-EU partnership, he said. Turkey must carry
out multilateral policies.
Ankara’s policy on the Caucasus to develop trade relations with Russia
and other countries does not contradict its partnership with the EU,
Chavushoglu added.
" Turkey is already the leading country in the region and cooperates
with Azerbaijan in this respect," he said.