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Foreign Ministry calls Poland to avoid unwarrantedly intervening in Azerbaijanâ€™s internal affairs

11 August 2014 14:19 (UTC +04:00)

Baku – APA. Press Service of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded to Spokesman of the Polish Foreign Affairs Ministry, Marchin Voychekhovski’s statement issued on August 9.

The Ministry’s press service told APA that Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry doesn’t accept the statement of the Polish Foreign Ministry. “This statement more looks like a statement of a non-governmental organization. Poland should further be fully careful and responsible regarding the statements about Azerbaijan. We believe that statement only reflects the position of the Polish Foreign Ministry.

As the Azerbaijani side repeatedly emphasized, no one, including the Azerbaijani civil society activists, is accused of their political views and activities. Poland’s statement on the alleged unfounded accusations against human rights defenders is absolutely unfounded. As a country where the rule of law is fully provided, not any political activity in Azerbaijan exempts anyone from responsibility before the law. Persons mentioned in the statement have been accused of specific criminal activities and judgments on them will be provided according to the laws of Azerbaijan. The judicial system in Azerbaijan is completely independent and any outside interference is considered as an attempt to exert political pressure, and is rejected by Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on the Polish side not to be concerned about possible social tension as a result of violation of basic rights and freedoms. Azerbaijan is one of the few countries not affected by the global economic and financial crisis and social welfare of the citizens is rising from year to year as a result of rapid economic development.

Poland’s not responding to the occupation of Azerbaijani territories, gross violation of the rights of more than 1 million refugees and internally displaced persons, killing of the Azerbaijani soldiers as a result of Armenia's recent subversive actions that resulted in further escalation of tensions along the frontline, is a good example of double standards. It seems that the Polish side shows biased and discriminatory approach towards the human rights under the instructions of the third party.

A country that has internationally been criticized for the existence of secret detention centers in its territory, widespread discrimination against the Roman community as well as racial violence is, instead of eliminating these problems, now pretending to be concerned over the violation of human rights in the world. That’s regrettable. In light of the double standards mentioned above and the problems that exist in Poland itself, such statements by the Foreign Ministry of Poland seem to be quite insincere. Based on all mentioned above, the Foreign Ministry calls on Poland to abstain from irrelevantly interfering in Azerbaijan’s domestic affairs. Statements of this kind do not suit the spirit of relations between Azerbaijan and Poland and are causing damage to the development of these relations”.

Note that, the statement of the Foreign Ministry of Poland had expressed concern over the politically motivated arrest of activists of civil society in Azerbaijan, noting that it seriously hampers cooperation with Europe. Foreign Ministry of Poland had called on the Azerbaijani government to remain committed to their obligations before the Council of Europe, the OSCE and the UN.