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Mevlut Cavusoglu: Azerbaijani delegation fully supports my nomination for PACE President

01 October 2009 08:06 (UTC +04:00)

Along with us, there are four Azerbaijani representatives in this group, including head of the Azerbaijani delegation Samad Seyidov,â€ said Turkish parliamentarian Mevlut Cavusoglu, nominee for president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), APAâ€™s correspondent accredited in the Council of Europe reports.

â€œWe work here actively at times. We are in the focus of attention with our relations, unity and our activity concerning the happenings,â€ he said.
Cavusoglu said the nomination was discussed with the Azerbaijani delegation.
â€œWe had talks with head of the Azerbaijani delegation Samad Seyidov and other friends and decided to nominate me for president of PACE. Of course, we discussed it with Turkish Prime Minister, ministers and our friends. We had planned this decision beforehand. We discussed it with Samad Seyidov once more at the meeting of the PACE bureau in Paris. He said Azerbaijan gives full support,â€ he said.

Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkish President, Prime Minister, ministers and speaker of Turkish parliament also support it.
â€œSo, we launched campaign and won the election in the group. I hope we will win PACE chairmanship,â€ he said.

He said it is the first time Turkey and Turks got such an opportunity.
â€œSome envied, others praised it. But this is a democratic choice and if we believe in democracy, the final results should be accepted by all,â€ he said.

Cavusoglu said the tenure was three years in the previous elections, later it was reduced by two years.
â€œThis agreement is reflected in all internal procedures. Increasing the tenure of PACE president will be discussed again. PACEâ€™s related committees should give consent to the change of the tenure,â€ he said.

Mevlut Cavusoglu said it is important to act fairly in PACE, to prevent double standards and have equal attitude towards all countries.
â€œMoreover, it is important to explain and promote the values of the Council of Europe. I think the biggest shortcoming is the lack of dialogue among the structures of the Council of Europe, Council of Europe and member states and other international organizations. We should increase the influence of the Council of Europe. Moreover, we should attach great importance to the dialogue among cultures, civilizations and will do our best for this,â€ he said.