MP Ilham Aliyev elected as PACE Vice-President

The head of the permanent mission of the Azerbaijani Milli Maclis (parliament) to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Ilham Aliyev was elected as the PACE Vice-President on January 27. He was also elected as PACE's Bureau member.

The election was seen by Azerbaijani public as an important historic event, since Azerbaijani politician occupied a highest ever position in an authoritative international organization.

In an interview to local press, Ilham Aliyev considered his appointment as a great respect to Azerbaijan by the Council of Europe, adding that his membership and suffrage in the bureau would significantly assist in promoting national interests of Azerbaijan.

Commenting on this important event for Azerbaijan, Samed Seidov, Aliyev's deputy, told journalists that during two years of its presence at the Council of Europe, Azerbaijan has not had a chance to take part in the activities of the PACE Bureau, which is the main decision-making body.

"Now our country has been given the opportunity. Furthermore, Ilham Aliyev, as other Vice-Presidents, will monitor PACE's work while President Peter Schieder is absent," Seidov noted.

He added that Aliyev's election took place after delegations representing a large number of countries submitted their recommendations to this effect.

PACE winter session agenda discussed a number of issues, including the opportunities of reaching the stability pact in South-East Europe, as well as migration processes in that region, freedom of speech, cultural cooperation among European and Mediterranean countries, situation in Chechnya, social concerns in Europe, security of the disabled people, conditions of young immigrants, etc.

In his speech Ilham Aliyev spoke about the stability opportunities in South-East Europe, centering on conditions that cause instability in the region. He indicated that one of the key factors was the Armenian occupation of 20 per cent of the Azerbaijani territory during past ten years. Noting that Armenia, being a PACE member, had occupied lands of another PACE member - neighboring Azerbaijan, the Azeri MP regretted that to this end the international community have not expressed strong attitude towards this injustice.

He thanked PACE for condemning the Armenian aggression, prioritizing the issue and reciting occupied Azerbaijani lands in its document.

Speaking about activity of the Armenian lobby in the US, Russia and Europe, Ilham Aliyev stressed that human rights protection and supremacy of justice were the main principles PACE was guided by.

"...everything must be specified: who is aggressor and who suffers from the aggression... PACE has appointed a special rapporteur to investigate this issue", he was quoted as saying.

The Azeri MP downplayed the idea that Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict could be resolved in a way of economic cooperation, which is being propagandized by certain political circles, influenced by Armenia.

"Azerbaijan will never start economic cooperation with Armenia until it does not withdraw its armed forces from the occupied lands."