ArmInfo.Currently, one of the member states of our Assembly constantly violates its statutory requirements, and from the first day of joining the organization. This state is Azerbaijan. Member of the Armenian delegation Mikael Melkumyan stated this in his speech at the PACE plenary session.
Melkumyan, in particular, noted that according to the PACE charter, the goal of the Council of Europe is to establish a close alliance between its members in order to preserve and promote the ideals and principles that are their common heritage.
However, the Assembly reacted very poorly to the terrible war waged by Azerbaijan against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Obviously, this is not the only serious violation by Azerbaijan of its obligations. We are all aware of the situation of human rights defenders, activists and non-governmental organizations in Azerbaijan. The situation with political prisoners has not changed for 20 years.
Yes, the treatment of political prisoners was also part of Azerbaijan's membership obligations. One state - a member of the Council of Europe, Azerbaijan, commits military aggression against another state - a member of the Council of Europe Armenia. As a result of the military aggression, thousands of victims, invalids, hundreds of prisoners of war, despite the fact that the trilateral statement between the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation and Azerbaijan clearly states that all prisoners must be returned. In fact, this issue has not been resolved, and our compatriots have been taken hostage in Azerbaijan. And now a question for you, what did the Council of Europe and Europe do to help? And if such atrocities took place, say, between two or three European countries, how would you react?
As a member of the delegation of a PACE member state, it remains unclear to me why the European structures were so far from the events of the 44-day war, a war with so many casualties and obvious realities of atrocities and destruction. Can you explain what kept you so cold and far away? European laws, customs, customs, traditions - what exactly? In other words, is Europe either unwilling to stop these killings, or is it incapable of doing so? Europe must change.
We must consider the possibility of starting a joint procedure against Azerbaijan, "the Armenian MP said.