Wednesday, January 24 2024 19:39

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.