Domestic

Domestic

Elmar Mammadyarov addresses 117th meeting of Council of Europe Committee of Ministers

11 May 2007 17:48 (UTC +04:00)

Elmar Mammadyarov visited Strasbourg to participate in the 17th meeting of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, Foreign Ministry press center told APA.
Elmar Mammadyarov met Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammerberg. The Foreign Minister stressed that in result of Armeniaâ€™s occupying Azerbaijan territories IDPs and refugees can not return to their homelands. Thomas Hammerberg expressed his wish to visit Azerbaijan and make a report on it.
That day Elmar Mammadyarov met the members of Ago Monitoring Group of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The meeting focused on the Karabakh issue. Elmar Mammadyarov informed the group on the negotiations for Karabkah problem and stressed the importance of withdrawal from Azerbaijani territories if Armenia wants to become dignified member of the Council of Europe. The members of Ago Group said they intend to visit Azerbaijan in summer months.
Elmar Mammdayraov addressed the 117th session of the Committee of Ministers.
He stressed that Azerbaijanis could not go back to their homelands as Armenia occupied Azerbaijani territories and carried out ethnic cleansing policy in the territory.
The Minister said Armenia violated the major values of the Council of Europe breaching the rule of law, democracy and human rights.
The Session approved the final document in the end. The document expressed concerns on the ongoing conflict in Europe./APA/