We have neither intention nor obligation to see in Azerbaijan the members of the Parliament, who do not want to see Azerbaijani representatives in PACE, said Spokesman for Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry Aykhan Hajizada, AzVision.az reports.

He made the remark in response to the anti-Azerbaijani views expressed by Gabrielius Landsbergis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, during the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on October 2.

"As for the opinions regarding the ban on the entry of the members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to Azerbaijan for voting on the issue of the mandate of the Azerbaijani delegation, we would like to note that this decision was made within the framework of our sovereign right based on the legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and this measure is in line with the existing practices of many countries, including the member states of the Council of Europe. We have neither intention nor obligation to see in Azerbaijan the members of the Parliament, who do not want to see Azerbaijani representatives in PACE.

We strongly condemn Minister Landsbergis’ baseless allegations on human rights in Azerbaijan using the rostrum of PACE. All the fundamental rights and freedoms are fully respected in Azerbaijan in line with the national legislation and the European Convention on Human Rights. It is absolutely wrong to portray the ongoing investigations initiated on the basis of sound evidence and conducted in accordance with the requirements of the law as “sanctions to limit freedom of expression.”

Somehow the Lithuanian Minister does not talk about the rights of more than 300,000 Azerbaijanis who were expelled from the territory of Armenia, while referring to the importance of respect for the rights of return of Armenians who voluntarily moved to Armenia from the Garabagh region of Azerbaijan, and that their rights are protected within the framework of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Instead of taking such a biased position, it would be better for the Lithuanian Minister to focus on his own activities, and call on PACE to take necessary steps to restore dialogue and cooperation with Azerbaijan," the statement reads.

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