Council of Europe failed to live up to Azerbaijan’s expectations: Parl’t vice-speaker

Council of Europe failed to live up to Azerbaijan’s expectations: Parl’t vice-speaker
# 06 October 2017 16:40 (UTC +04:00)

The Council of Europe failed to live up to Azerbaijan’s expectations, Ziyafat Asgarov, First Vice-Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Chairman of the parliament’s Committee on Defense, Security and Anti-Corruption, said in an interview with APA.

He noted with regret that Azerbaijan have come under constant pressure from the Council of Europe since it joined the organization in 2001.

“I guess we became CoE members at the same time as did Armenia. However, the attitude towards Armenia is different, while towards us it’s nothing but pressures,” Asgarov said.

He emphasized that there is big injustice in the Council of Europe. “It can’t go on like this. The invader country is not facing any sanctions, while we are facing pressures. Such a whole lot of double standards!”

As for the possibility of Azerbaijan leaving the Council of Europe, Asgarov said that this issue is dealt with by the country’s president and parliament.

“But I’ve got to tell you that if we quit the Council of Europe, as outlined by Mr President, nothing will change. I’m going to be direct, the Council of Europe failed to live up to our expectations,” he added.

The vice-speaker also commented on accusations against Azerbaijan for not fulfilling the decision of the European Court of Human Rights and the establishment of a term for the release of REAL Movement leader Ilgar Mammadov.

According to him, more than tens of thousands decisions of the European Court of Human Rights are not executed by several European states.

The vice-speaker said he does not consider Ilgar Mammadov a political prisoner.

“Ilgar Mammadov was punished for a particular crime. If some persons in Europe are especially interested in having someone released, then this is an erroneous option. We don’t accept orders, deadlines. We execute the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, even we pay compensations in the amount they have determined. Nearly 10,000 decisions of the European Court remain unfulfilled in other countries. Why they are turning a blind eye to this, but only exerting pressure on us? Set a deadline and dictate to Azerbaijan is not an effective policy. We need to sit down at the negotiating table and hold discussions,” Asgarov added.

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