Samed Seidov: "Policy of double standards applied by the Council of Europe is no compliment for either this organization or powers functioning within it"

-How does the Azerbaijani delegation prepare for the April session of PACE?

-The April session is a serious session which will discuss various elections including Russian, Armenian and Serbian ones. We are preparing for the session and will took a serious part in it.

-What about the forthcoming elections in Azerbaijan? Does the agenda of the session include issues directly connected with Azerbaijan?

-No, there are not such issues on the agenda.

-Mass medias have once spread the information about the intention of the Azerbaijani delegation to raise the issue about the inadequate assessment of situation in Azerbaijan and Armenia by the experts. Is that true?

-We have already raised this issue. And, by the way, the situation in Armenia is now being discussed owing to it. Another matter is that this issue will be a subject of urgent hearings. Certainly, we will express our position on both elections in Armenia and on double standards, applied by the Council of Europe. This fact can not be concealed by anyone and unfortunately it is no compliment for either the Council of Europe or the powers functioning within it. Thus, this is an extremely important issue.

-Do you imply pro-Armenian powers in the Council of Europe?

-I imply different, pro-Armenian, as well as powers representing interests of other countries, all those that are not interested in Azerbaijan's getting closer to the European community. It is important to be unbiased and to demonstrate an unbiased approach to all issues, including the most problematic ones. If any position has been worked out regarding Azerbaijan and discussions are held and proposals are made almost at each session, why close eyes on such serious violations in other countries?

-How do you assess prospects of interaction of members of the Azerbaijani delegation in PACE and local human rights activists for formation of the unbiased opinion about the situation in Azerbaijan in the Council of Europe?

-I assess it normally. We are cooperating in the format of a work group which does a lot and we will gather again on April 3, by the way along with Ago group which is to arrive in Baku. And if there are unbiased approaches, approaches serving the interests of our country and settlement of problems with human rights, everything will be all right.

If the issues with the so-called "political prisoners" that do not exist are raised artificially, I can not agree on such a demonstration of double standards. There is not a single country, which applies a term of political prisoers. Why should it be applied to my country? Why are 200 people, imprisoned for participation in demonstrations in Armenia, not considered political prisoners? Why aren't people, who are hiding in the neighbor countries, considered political prisoners? The same can also be applied Russia, where Hodorkovsky, who is not considered a political prisoner by some unknown reasons, is detained.

Meanwhile, political prisoners are said to exist in Azerbaijan. This is unfair and therefore there will be no political prisoners in Azerbaijan until double standards are applied. If someone wants to demonstrate an unbiased approach to the problem, he should do it regarding all countries.

I would repeat that our work group acts well on all issues of protection and violation of human rights. Our group has not worked and does not intend to work on other issues.

/Day.Az/