Comments by the Press Service, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Although the occupation of its territories by the Republic of Armenia, having more than one million refugees and IDP’s as the result of ethnic cleansing policy conducted by Armenia both in the occupied regions and in Armenia itself, provided political stability, economic development, social prosperity, free civil society, freedom of speech and expression, as well as functioning of political parties, NGO’s and mass media in Azerbaijan is crystal clear. All those above mentioned achievements have been provided for the benefit of the people of Azerbaijan nation, rather than making any international organization to remain pleased.
Adoption of such kind of document is an outcome of denial policy of secular Islamic countries with dynamic development pursued by the European institutions, including Council of Europe and its Parliamentary Assembly and yet a clear manifestation of speedily growing tendency of Islamophobia in Europe.
Azerbaijan has always been open to any constructive proposals and recommendations pursuant to its national interests. However, interference into the internal affairs of the independent and sovereign state and adoption of any documents with the purpose of humiliation and pressure is completely unacceptable.
That biased and double standards attitude compel us to consider to an extent the necessity of Azerbaijan’s participation at the Council of Europe and its Parliamentary Assembly.