Ilham Aliyev: Return Shakhtakhtinsky and we re-open the OSCE office

Baku/20.09.16/Turan: Today the  President Ilham Aliyev has received members of the EU-Azerbaijan interparliamentary cooperation. During the meeting, Aliyev accused the European Parliament of bias towards Azerbaijan and criticized other Western structures, claiming a violation of human rights in the country. According to the official report of the Azerbaijani President's meeting with representatives of the European Parliament,

Aliyev made a brief excursion to the events of a year ago when, after the adoption by the European Parliament resolution criticizing the Azerbaijani parliamentary ties were virtually suspended between the parties. This meeting, Aliyev said, will be a good opportunity for open discussion to clarify the relationship and planning  future work, for the adopted resolution of the European Parliament a year ago caused a serious setback in the relationship. He called the resolution "a hostile step" taken on the basis of incorrect, erroneous, biased information in order to strike the country's reputation.

Aliyev said he does not agree with the thesis that the human rights situation in Azerbaijan deteriorated over the past five years.

In particular, Aliyev rejected the assertion that journalists and civil society representatives  are  consistently persecuted. He also denied reports that the Director of Meydan TV Emin Milli received death threats.

With regard to the deprivation of  citizenship the human rights defender Emin Huseynov  who was granted asylum in Switzerland after spending nine months in the Embassy in Baku, fearing arrest, then, according to Aliyev, the activist had written him an appeal on refusal the from the Azerbaijani citizenship.

Aliyev said that Huseynov had left the country after reaching an agreement between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan and Switzerland.

The head of state began to deny  the ban of  rallies in central Baku since 2006. According to him, the opposition has the opportunity to hold rallies in central Baku. According to Aliyev, "the opposition  holds rallies in central Baku, but collects only a few hundred people." The President also expressed his attitude to the allegations that the journalist Rasim Aliyev was killed after receiving threats in connection with the criticism of the head of Azerbaijan in social networks on the Internet.

According to Aliyev, a journalist tragically died in hospital after he was beaten by relatives and fans of football player  whom he criticized.

Aliyev  stated about Azerbaijan's interest to broaden and deepen the strategic partnership with the EU. The counter interest  has the the EU. Therefore, according to Aliyev, such resolutions do not reflect the essence of cooperation between the parties.

Aliyev also touched upon the issue of the closure of the summer of 2015 the OSCE Office in Baku.

The reason for this, according to Aliyev, was dismissal  from the position of Head of the OSCE Office in Baku Alex Shakhtakhtinsky as  a result of  the intervention of the US ambassador to the OSCE Bayer.

Shakhtakhtinsky,  a French citizen with Azerbaijani roots, worked  in this position for only one year. According to Aliyev, the reason for dismissal was Shakhtakhtinsky photo in his office with the President of Azerbaijan.

Under US pressure on the French government, further noted Aliyev, Shahathtinsky was dismissed as head of the OSCE Baku Office, his career came to an end, he was dismissed from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France.

"What can I say, if, according to the US Representative to the OSCE a photo with me is a crime? I said that if Shakhtakhtinsky  is  dismissed, the office will be closed. I was warned, but I did not listen, and we did it. Now they want to restore the activity of the office. And I set a condition. Return Shakhtakhtinsky, restore justice, careers, and we  will re-open the office," Aliyev said, expressing  disagreement with  the paragraph  of the  European Parliament resolution that the OSCE Office in Baku has been closed without any clarification.

Aliyev, rejecting criticism of "Freedom House" organization called it  pro-Armenian.

President of Azerbaijan  regards  the European Parliament resolution a result of the activity of Schulz and Lunachek   as “ hating” the leaders of Azerbaijan Parliament.  According to Aliyev, Azerbaijan "has lost nothing" in response to the resolution of the European Parliament did not create in the Parliament working group on relations with the EU, has suspended activities in the Euronest PA.

"This is the  situation here. We cannot behave as if nothing had happened. We need to clarify this. We need to correct this to consider what needs to be done. If everything  remains and nothing happens, then what we're going to talk? " Aliyev said.

Deputies from the UK Karim Sayad, Finland - Heidi Hautala, Romania - Ramona Manesku announced the importance of Azerbaijan for  the EU. In turn, Aliyev said that despite the crisis in relations with the European Parliament, Azerbaijan is developing ties with the EU.

At the same time, Aliyev highly appreciated the European Parliament support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan.

During the meeting the sides discussed issues on facilitation of visa regime and other issues of mutual interest. -06D--