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Foreign Ministry issues statement on visits of CoE Secretary General and PACE President to Azerbaijan

24 May 2014 14:14 (UTC +04:00)

Jagland and Brasseur were received by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Speaker of the Parliament Ogtay Asadov and other officials during the visits, the Foreign Ministry told APA.

At the meetings the sides exchanged views on the priorities for the Azerbaijani Chairmanship of the CoE Committee of Ministers, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, topical and regional issues, as well as the report by Jagland on the state of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe.

Council of Europe's Action Plan on Azerbaijan for 2014-2016 was presented with the participation of Jagland.

Visiting "ASAN Xidmet" Center No 4 of the State Agency for Public Services and Social Innovation, Jagland praised the activity of the service and said it can be a positive example for other European countries.

Anne Brasseur chaired a meeting of the Standing Committee at the Azerbaijani Parliament. Addressing the meeting, Brasseur said that the respect for the territorial integrity of member states is the fundamental principle of the organization. Touching upon Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, Brasseur recalled the Resolution #1416 adopted at PACE in 2005. She also stressed that PACE has an unequivocal and principled position regarding the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

The Resolution #1416 demands the fulfillment of the resolutions # 822, 853, 874 and 884 of the UN Security Council and withdrawal of armed forces from the occupied territories.

Addressing the meeting, Speaker Ogtay Asadov talked about the relations with PACE and the Azerbaijani Chairmanship of the CoE Committee of Ministers. He also touched upon the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Elmar Mammadyarov delivered a speech at the meeting in the status of Azerbaijani Foreign Minister and Chairman of the CoE Committee of Ministers. Mammadyarov thoroughly informed the PACE members about Azerbaijan’s foreign policy, economic growth, political reforms implemented in the country, an atmosphere of tolerance in the country and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Mammadyarov said the fact that Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict has not been resolved yet, the Armenian occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory continues and more than one million refugees and internally displaced persons could return to their historical lands is contrary to the fundamental principles and democratic values, which from the basis of the Council of Europe, and undermines the all-round development of the region and democratic processes.

The Foreign Ministry and PACE members also exchanged views on international issues and one member of PACE stressed that the occupation of the territory of one member state by the other one is unacceptable.