Interview with Sabir Hajiyev, member of the Azerbaijani delegation in PACE.
Q: How real is the resumption of the PACE subcommittee on Karabakh conflict?
A: As is known, the PACE subcommittee on Karabakh conflict was created in line with the resolution in the Assembly. The first head of the PACE subcommittee on Karabakh was lord Russell Johnston, while after his death the structure has been left without a leader and has been idle since that. However, members of the Azerbaijani and Armenian delegations hold imitational meetings. For example, such meetings were held at the last session of PACE under mediation of the Assembly leaders. They discussed the recommendations, fixed in PACE resolution on Karabakh settlement. As for the reality of the resumption of activity of the subcommittee, this issue can be discussed at the joint meetings of the heads of Azerbaijani and Armenian delegations in PACE with participation of the Assembly leaders. It is not ruled out that this meeting can be held during the upcoming winter session of PACE in Strasbourg in late January. I do not see anything unusual in holding such meetings, since in this connection there is the due decision of the Council of Europe.
Q: Which results can these meetings have in terms of contributing to Karabakh settlement?
A: In this case, the main issue is fixing the fact of occupation of Azerbaijani lands in the PACE resolution. Though PACE resolution are mostly recommendations, we are interested in execution of the paragraphs of this document. In this connection, we are also interested in setting demands on liberation of the occupied lands and at the meetings held between Azerbaijani and Armenian delegations, the need to execute recommendations fixed in this resolution of PACE is naturally stressed,
Q: Does it mean that there are no effective leverages to force the parties to execute demands of the Assembly’s resolutions?
A: The matter is that the solution of this conflict is the direct competence of the OSCE Minsk Group. In addition, meetings on the level of presidents and foreign ministers are held to settle the conflict. But all the same, along with the OSCE other international organizations also passed due resolutions on the Karabakh conflict. In this connection, there appears a need to adopt the resolutions on Karabakh by the parliamentary assembly of those organizations. PACE passed such a decision, but now there is a need to execute it. Despite this, unfortunately, Azerbaijani lands are still under occupation. However, this process must be launched and we, the Azerbaijani side, believe that the world community, international organizations must intensify work to execute the adopted documents.
Q: If the Armenian side endlessly torpedoes the activity of the subcommittee, what is the sense of discussing the Karabakh conflict in PACE?
A: I repeat that PACE resolutions are recommendations. But the discussion of the Karabakh conflict in the most influential organization on the European space, where 47 states are represented is a positive fact in terms of the conflict settlement. It is also positive that international community pays attention to this problem and hears the just voice of Azerbaijan. In this view, the discussion of the Karabakh conflict in PACE is of special international importance.
Q: Why does the Armenian side hamper the resumption of the PACE subcommittee’s activity on Karabakh conflict?
A: We have never heard a substantiated argument from them. Anyway, this subcommittee has already been created and now the matter is about forming its staff. However, even if the subcommittee is not gathering for its session, nevertheless, there is a structure with such a name and meetings between parliamentary delegations of Azerbaijan and Armenia are held in this or other format. All the same, these meetings are held on a higher format, that is with participation of the president and the PACE Secretary General. But anyway, the work of the subcommittee must be restored.
As for the real reasons of the rejection of the Armenian delegation to take part in the activity of the subcommittee on Karabakh conflict, this is likely coming from the resolution of the assembly, which clearly fixes the occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia.
Lala B.
News.Az
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