Leaders of Azerbaijani political parties discuss Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with PACE President

The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Jean-Claude Mignon met on Monday with leaders of Azerbaijani political parties in the Milli Mejlis (Parliament).

Azerbaijan is interested in expanding relations with the Council of Europe, deputy secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party Mubariz Gurbanly said at the meeting. He stressed that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to cooperation with PACE.
The Council of Europe is an important organization and a good school for Azerbaijan, chairman of the Democratic Reforms Party (DRP) Asim Mollazade said at the meeting. This organization should continue supporting the activities undertaken by the OSCE Minsk Group with regards to the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the party chairman said.
Meetings with European parliamentarians have a formal character, and there has been no progress in the settlement of regional conflicts, chairman of the Civil Solidarity Party (CSP) Sabir Rustamkhanly noted with regret that at the meeting.

Stressing that the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the most important issue for Azerbaijan, Rustamkhanly said that Armenia has always been a tool in the hands of Russia against states willing to acquire independence. Naming the Minsk Group as a tourism organization, he accused its members of inactivity.

Azerbaijan has no territorial claims to any state, unlike Armenia that has territorial claims to neighboring states, chairman of the Adalat Party Ilyas Ismailov said at the meeting. He said he did not believe in the activities of the Minsk Group, adding that the statements of the members of the group are advisory in nature.

Ismailov also said Azerbaijan wants to liberate the occupied lands through other options.

Obviously, the policy of peace has come to a standstill, head of the Great Establishment Party Fazil Mustafa said. Chairmanship of the aggressor state in such a structure as the Council of Europe does not meet any standards of conduct, he said, adding that the chairman of the PACE must demonstrate a specific position on the issue.

The organization is ready to contribute to closer cooperation with Azerbaijan, the chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Jean-Claude Mignon said.