ANDRES HERKEL: "I CANNOT DISAGREE TO THE CLAIMS OF DOUBLE STANDARD APPROACH AGAINST AZERBAIJAN COMPARED WITH ARMENIA"

Azeri Press Agency
April 15 2008
Azerbaijan

Strasbourg. Fuad Gulubayli-APA. "I cannot disagree to the claims of
double standard approach against Azerbaijan compared with Armenia. I
also consider that the reports on Armenia were not as severe as the
ones related to Azerbaijan.

Therefore, I approve the decision on holding extraordinary discussions
on Armenia on the fourth day of PACE spring session", PACE Monitoring
Committee Co-Rapporteur on Azerbaijan Andres Herkel told APA’s Europe
bureau exclusively. Andres Herkel said he did not have strict position
on Armenia in the discussions on the post-election situation in Russia
and Armenia.

"As regards Russia, I think that no serious report has been prepared
on this country for a long time and this situation is not in line
with the principle of preparing regular report on the countries under
monitoring. Of course, my main task is to deal with Azerbaijan first
of all. But I make remarks in connection with the other countries in
the plenary sessions and committee meetings. I do not think that PACE
pursue double standard policy. Assembly has not decisive approach
on commitments of several countries and double standard approach is
observed. I am anxious about inadequate usage of power in the country
and they understand seriousness of the issue after street fighting.

Other countries may use this experiment to get power by means of
force not elections. I am engaged in issues on Azerbaijan and I want
to raise issues on Azerbaijan constantly", he said.

Andres Herkel stated that the date of co-rapporteurs’ visit to
Azerbaijan had not been determined yet.

"I suppose that we will visit in the middle of May. The realization
of the visit is important till the PACE June session. Andres Herkel
is anxious about arrest of journalists in Azerbaijan. To him, if this
problem is solved, co-rapporteurs can engaged in protection of rights
of refugees from Nagorno Karabakh.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress