ArmInfo.The delegation of Azerbaijan in PACE issued a statement about suspending cooperation
with the organization without waiting for the decision of the plenary session.
"No one in the world, including those sitting in this hall, can speak
to Azerbaijan in the language of threats and blackmail. Throughout
the history of PACE, this organization has never had such a shameful
behavior. In the conditions of the intolerant environment of racism,
anti-Azerbaijanophobia and Islamophobia that has formed in PACE, the
Azerbaijani delegation decides to cease its engagement with and
presence at PACE until further notice," the statement reads, as cited
by Interfax.
Yesterday the PACE Monitoring Committee considered that the powers of
the Azerbaijani delegation should not be approved for at least one
year. In what form PACE will limit the powers of Azerbaijani
parliamentarians will be known based on the results of today's
debate. The powers of the Azerbaijani delegation may be fully or
partially limited by a decision of the plenary meeting.
German MP Frank Schwabe initiated to limit Azerbaijan's powers. He
cited the ongoing human rights violations and the growing number of
political prisoners in Azerbaijan as the reason, as well as the
refusal of official Baku to invite the PACE delegation to evaluate
the upcoming presidential elections on February 7. He also mentioned
Azerbaijan's refusal to allow PACE speakers into the Lachin corridor
in 2023. "The speakers of our assembly were not given the opportunity
to visit the Lachin corridor three times in 2023. And today the
European Council does not receive an invitation to monitor the
presidential elections in Azerbaijan," the German MP said. According
to Schwabe, this is a clear and unforgivable violation of all laws
on cooperation, an attempt to undermine the activities of the
European Council and act against all other organizations, including
the OSCE. According to the German legislator, the Azerbaijani
delegation should bear direct responsibility for all this and its
powers should be suspended. Schwabe called on PACE members to give a
clear answer. At the suggestion of the chairman, the issue was
submitted for consideration to the PACE Monitoring Committee by an
overwhelming majority of votes of the MPs present in the hall.
