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AZERBAIJAN SETTING HOPES ON "CAVIAR DIPLOMACY"
May 3, 2013 - 21:44 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - The chairman of Azerbaijani delegation to Euronest
PA, Elkhan Suleymanov sent a letter to the President of the European
Parliament, European Commission, foreign ministers of the EU member
states, Co-Presidents of the Euronest PA, all members of European
Parliament and Euronest PA, slamming the February 18 presidential
elections in Armenia.
"Despite election violations, the international observation missions
evaluated the presidential elections in Armenia as democratic, " the
Azeri MP said, further accusing Armenia of unleashing Karabakh war,
perpetrating massacre in Khojalu and disregarding democratic values
in blatant breach of the principles and values of the European Union
and Council of Europe.
Suleymanov didn't fail to mention construction of an airport in
Stepanakert, further expressing "perplexity" that the "aggressor state"
will be chairing the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe
as well as continuing talks for Association Agreement with the EU.
Suleymanov went on to accuse the European institutions of double
standards. In conclusion, the MP noted, "unfortunately, I received
no reply to my letter dated March 18, 2013. However, I hope that my
concerns won't remain unaddressed."
So the obvious answer is: if the first letter was not given a
reply, it wasn't deemed worthy of attention. Clearly, the Council
of Europe remembers the "warm welcome" extended to PACE rapporteurs
for Azerbaijan, to say nothing of the fact that Christopher Strasser
has factually been declared persona non grata after the release of
a report on political prisoners in Azerbaijan. Suleymanov would be
better off fighting for democracy in his own country.
A letter like this might be ignored, had not Azerbaijan, named a
non-democratic country in every UN and State Department report,
and criticized for its violation of human rights, become suddenly
"concerned" over the state of affairs in Armenia.
The MP in question had no right to offer a legal or moral assessment
on Armenia's domestic policy. Baku is well aware who actually started
a war in Karabakh, but do MEPs know about it? Seems like Azeri "caviar
diplomacy" and petrodollars are still able of influencing the CoE.
Meanwhile, according to the head of Armenian delegation to Euronest
PA Vahan Hovhannisyan, "Suleymanov's letter aims to disorient the
MEPs who're insufficiently aware of Karabakh conflict."
"And though Azeri politicians' remarks are not worthy of comment,
at the next sitting, Suleymanov's letter will be adequately replied
be the Armenian delegation," he said.
Karine Ter-Sahakyan / PanARMENIAN News
May 3, 2013 - 21:44 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - The chairman of Azerbaijani delegation to Euronest
PA, Elkhan Suleymanov sent a letter to the President of the European
Parliament, European Commission, foreign ministers of the EU member
states, Co-Presidents of the Euronest PA, all members of European
Parliament and Euronest PA, slamming the February 18 presidential
elections in Armenia.
"Despite election violations, the international observation missions
evaluated the presidential elections in Armenia as democratic, " the
Azeri MP said, further accusing Armenia of unleashing Karabakh war,
perpetrating massacre in Khojalu and disregarding democratic values
in blatant breach of the principles and values of the European Union
and Council of Europe.
Suleymanov didn't fail to mention construction of an airport in
Stepanakert, further expressing "perplexity" that the "aggressor state"
will be chairing the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe
as well as continuing talks for Association Agreement with the EU.
Suleymanov went on to accuse the European institutions of double
standards. In conclusion, the MP noted, "unfortunately, I received
no reply to my letter dated March 18, 2013. However, I hope that my
concerns won't remain unaddressed."
So the obvious answer is: if the first letter was not given a
reply, it wasn't deemed worthy of attention. Clearly, the Council
of Europe remembers the "warm welcome" extended to PACE rapporteurs
for Azerbaijan, to say nothing of the fact that Christopher Strasser
has factually been declared persona non grata after the release of
a report on political prisoners in Azerbaijan. Suleymanov would be
better off fighting for democracy in his own country.
A letter like this might be ignored, had not Azerbaijan, named a
non-democratic country in every UN and State Department report,
and criticized for its violation of human rights, become suddenly
"concerned" over the state of affairs in Armenia.
The MP in question had no right to offer a legal or moral assessment
on Armenia's domestic policy. Baku is well aware who actually started
a war in Karabakh, but do MEPs know about it? Seems like Azeri "caviar
diplomacy" and petrodollars are still able of influencing the CoE.
Meanwhile, according to the head of Armenian delegation to Euronest
PA Vahan Hovhannisyan, "Suleymanov's letter aims to disorient the
MEPs who're insufficiently aware of Karabakh conflict."
"And though Azeri politicians' remarks are not worthy of comment,
at the next sitting, Suleymanov's letter will be adequately replied
be the Armenian delegation," he said.
Karine Ter-Sahakyan / PanARMENIAN News