70 years ago, the Council of Europe emerged as the hope of the mankind that newly experienced the horrors of the Second World War, a new glimpse of democratic values. However, perhaps, the authors and creators of this idea could not even imagine that in just 70 years, this organization, which was created as the protector of human rights and human values, would become a tool of various groups and a tool for pressure on independent states and lose its influence.  

It is admitted in western countries that the degradation process has been ongoing at the Council of Europe, and the organization loses its weight on the political arena of the continent. The situation has reached the point that it is suggested to reduce the number of the organization's sessions and shorten the period of sessions from one week to 4 days. Despite the fact that the Parliamentary Assembly (PA) of the Council of Europe has 324 members, the number of participants at sessions does not exceed 150. The main reasons for the Council of Europe to lose its influence as an organization and that even Europeans have lost interest in it are double standards, the fact that the documents adopted at the organization remain on paper and that different groups lead the Parliamentary Assembly in the direction they want.

"The Council of Europe should criticize police brutality in Europe's leading countries, objurgate those countries and their law-enforcement forces. We do not hear that, we see that on TV. People are beaten up, humiliated, killed in the leading capitals of Europe, their eyes are gorged out, dogs are sent at people like it is democracy. Now, when we say that, I have said it openly to those, who arrive from Europe and want to criticize us, - they do not reply, they keep silence. However, as soon as they leave the room, they continue their hideous activity, they want to tarnish our reputation. Of course, we cannot tolerate it. We fight together with Turkey, like we have fought together with you," said President Ilham Aliyev.

Why do some members of the Council of Europe PA, who exaggerate some small issues in the countries demonstrating dynamic development, such Azerbaijan and Turkey, and try to present some people arrested for the concrete law violations as political prisoners, keep silence before the deplorable situation of human rights in Europe?

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev noted in his speech in regard to this: "Azerbaijan is presented as a backwards country; the positive processes happening in Azerbaijan are not noted. They try to paint Azerbaijan only in black colors and once again publish reports and adopt resolutions based on the ungrounded and false information. They want to show that there are political prisoners in Azerbaijan, like some obstacles are created for the democratic process in Azerbaijan. All of this is a lie. There is no political prisoner in Azerbaijan; we know that well. However, the countries, which have political prisoners, are left without attention. I can give Armenia as an example."

Two former heads of state of Armenia Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan have been persecuted for their political activity. The main reason of their arrest is their critical position towards the incumbent government. Fundamental human rights are violated in this country at every step. Armenia harshly violates the rights of not only its own citizens, but also the rights of more than 1 million Azerbaijani citizens by keeping the territories of another member state under occupation for over 30 years. Why does the Council of Europe, that considers itself the protector of human rights, turn a blind eye to these facts and does not hurry to put pressure on the occupational regime?

Member of the French National Assembly Jean-Luc Reitzer said in an interview to Azerbaijan Television that Azerbaijan is an important partner for Europe from the economic and political points of view: "Azerbaijan is an important partner for France and in general, for Europe. Azerbaijan is a country that has achieved the stable and dynamic development in the unstable region. Therefore, I consider that this kind of biased approaches are not right. Double standards should not be allowed at European political institutions. A biased approach first of all tarnishes the reputation of the Council of Europe and such organizations applying double standards. We should take steps bringing us closer to promising countries, such as Azerbaijan. However, the biased and ordered attitude does not allow it. Europe should build the relations with Azerbaijan based on the sincere political and economic interests."

Experts pay attention to the fact that once the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution against Russia depriving its representatives of the right to vote. However, later, after experiencing some financial problems, they had to apply to Russia again. All this shows that the organization has been completely politicized.

Bringing to the limelight the so called political prisoners issues on the eve of the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan is no coincidence, and its purpose is to conduct a smear campaign and overshadow the parliamentary elections.

If it is not like that, why has Jacek Protasiewicz, who illegally visited the occupied Azerbaijani territories and was put on the black list, been included in the Council of Europe PA observation mission? The Council of Europe knows well that the people, who have illegally visited our occupied territories, are prohibited to enter Azerbaijan. It means that the goal is to carry out a provocation and present the elections as non-transparent.

In other words, it is the Council of Europe PA's own choice if it wants to continue the attempts to have an influence on independent states and lose its influence.

 

Elzar Aghayev

Western Europe Bureau of Azerbaijan Television