Azerbaijani non-governmental organizations have sent a letter to PACE President Pedro Agramunt.

The Council of State Support to NGOs under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan told that the NGO heads who signed the letter expressed their concern over some European NGOs allying with local organizations in certain initiatives and activities aimed at spoiling Azerbaijan’s relations with European institutions.

`We, the representatives of the Civil Society in the Republic of Azerbaijan decided to address you in the eve of PACE`s winter session. We highly appreciate Azerbaijan`s membership to PACE. The membership allowed Azerbaijan`s legislation system to conform with the European values. Furthermore, the court law system has been changed in a positive direction under the thumb of the relevant decisions adopted by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). We do hope that cooperation with the institutions of the Council of Europe, as well as PACE will bring favorable outcomes to the settlement of the challenges in the field of human rights.

We regret to tell you that the efficiency of subsequent cooperation with the EU as well as other European organizations irritates some powers and does not provide the improvement of the relations between Azerbaijan and European institutions. We concern over the attempts and concrete operations of the some NGOs in Eastern Europe which merged with the local organizations to deteriorate the relations between Azerbaijan and European institutions. In fact, the libelous letter addressed to the PACE on behalf of a group of representatives of the Civil Society is a part of a campaign against Azerbaijan. Most of our colleagues whose names mentioned in the letter were not aware of the address.

We hope that the Council of Europe as well as PACE will respond to this kind of biases toward Azerbaijan with an adequate reaction and maintain its joint efforts with Azerbaijan for ensuring human rights. We support Azerbaijan`s close cooperation with the European institutions as well as PACE. Azerbaijan must remain a member of this kind of an important international organization. We know which powers are interested in worsening the relations. In this matter, we should unite against these powers.

20% territory of Azerbaijan was occupied as a result of the military aggression of the Republic of Armenia. The enemy side and its supporters aim to weaken Azerbaijan`s position in the international institutions. We strongly condemn the campaign launched against the Azerbaijan`s delegation to PACE. We consider this campaign as a malicious activity by powers who aim to deliver big blow in Azerbaijan-Europe relations`, the letter reads.

Note, 96 NGO heads signed the letter.

AzVision.az

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