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THE RESOLUTION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT WAS COMPLEMENTED BY SEVERAL OTHER DECLARATIONS ON A HIGH EUROPEAN POLICY LEVEL: BARBARA LOCHBIHLER
ARMENPRESS
11 October, 2012
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS: Azeri axe-murderer Ramil Safarov's
extradition lead to concern and criticism by various international
organizations. Armenpress had an exclusive interview with Barbara
Lochbihler-Chair of Subcommittee on Human Rights in the European
Parliament on Safarov's scandal and the resolution adopted by European
Parliament.
Armenpress: Ms Lochbihler, after the resolution on Safarov's case, what
are the next steps to be taken by the EU as a whole and the European
Parliament (EP) in particular? Or do you believe the resolution was
a final say of the EP?
The Resolution of the European Parliament was complemented by several
other declarations on a high European policy level. The President of
the European Parliament, as well as the High Representative of the
Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton,
and Commissioner tefan Fule issued statements condemning the
actions taken by Azerbaijan. Moreover the Council of Europe has also
looked into the problem and issued a statement on to the subject. The
European Parliament instructed its President to forward the passed
resolution to the EEAS, the European Council, the Commission, the
respective governments and parliaments of the Republic of Azerbaijan
and the Republic of Armenia, the Council of Europe, the OSCE and
the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism. The
Parliament and especially the related committees and delegations will
of course continue monitoring the developments in the area.
Armenpress: The lobby groups are very active in the EP and bring
"polarization" to the institution. There is also a growing Azerbaijani
lobby. Do you see a possibility of reaching and showing a more balanced
approach within the EP?
All lobbies have the possibility to be heard within the European
policy making. I can only speak for myself and I can assure you
that my voting behavior was not influenced by Azerbaijani lobbyists
whatsoever. Furthermore I and my political group call for more
transparency as regards lobbying activities in the EP.
Armenpress: Could you please elaborate on ALDE's last minute
decision to vote against the Safarov resolution? They were one of the
initiators of the resolution - weren't there questions raised within
the Parliament as to why it happened?
I frankly cannot answer you why the ALDE group after all voted against
a resolution which they co-initiated. The exact circumstances or
influences on the voting pattern of MEPs of the ALDE Group are
incomprehensible for me. The joint motion for a resolution was
ultimately no longer submitted by members of the ALDE Group. Since
the adoption of the text only required a simple majority and the text
has already been supported by other parties, the withdrawal of the
votes of the ALDE Group did not influence the outcome of the vote.
By Emma Argutyan
ARMENPRESS
11 October, 2012
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS: Azeri axe-murderer Ramil Safarov's
extradition lead to concern and criticism by various international
organizations. Armenpress had an exclusive interview with Barbara
Lochbihler-Chair of Subcommittee on Human Rights in the European
Parliament on Safarov's scandal and the resolution adopted by European
Parliament.
Armenpress: Ms Lochbihler, after the resolution on Safarov's case, what
are the next steps to be taken by the EU as a whole and the European
Parliament (EP) in particular? Or do you believe the resolution was
a final say of the EP?
The Resolution of the European Parliament was complemented by several
other declarations on a high European policy level. The President of
the European Parliament, as well as the High Representative of the
Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton,
and Commissioner tefan Fule issued statements condemning the
actions taken by Azerbaijan. Moreover the Council of Europe has also
looked into the problem and issued a statement on to the subject. The
European Parliament instructed its President to forward the passed
resolution to the EEAS, the European Council, the Commission, the
respective governments and parliaments of the Republic of Azerbaijan
and the Republic of Armenia, the Council of Europe, the OSCE and
the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism. The
Parliament and especially the related committees and delegations will
of course continue monitoring the developments in the area.
Armenpress: The lobby groups are very active in the EP and bring
"polarization" to the institution. There is also a growing Azerbaijani
lobby. Do you see a possibility of reaching and showing a more balanced
approach within the EP?
All lobbies have the possibility to be heard within the European
policy making. I can only speak for myself and I can assure you
that my voting behavior was not influenced by Azerbaijani lobbyists
whatsoever. Furthermore I and my political group call for more
transparency as regards lobbying activities in the EP.
Armenpress: Could you please elaborate on ALDE's last minute
decision to vote against the Safarov resolution? They were one of the
initiators of the resolution - weren't there questions raised within
the Parliament as to why it happened?
I frankly cannot answer you why the ALDE group after all voted against
a resolution which they co-initiated. The exact circumstances or
influences on the voting pattern of MEPs of the ALDE Group are
incomprehensible for me. The joint motion for a resolution was
ultimately no longer submitted by members of the ALDE Group. Since
the adoption of the text only required a simple majority and the text
has already been supported by other parties, the withdrawal of the
votes of the ALDE Group did not influence the outcome of the vote.
By Emma Argutyan