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“Upcoming presidential election is very important moment. The elections create for us great opportunities and many things depend on these elections”, Luis Maria de Puig told journalists in Baku, APA reports. He said PACE demands to Azerbaijan were clearly shown in the resolution. “The demand on the meeting of democratic standards during the elections has also been put forward in the resolution”.
Responding the question of the journalists about the “oil smell of the resolution”, Luis Maria de Puig said he didn’t agree with this idea. “Those, who think Azerbaijan-related resolution smells oil, have no idea about the Council of Europe. It is true, there are some countries interested in the oil and gas resources of Azerbaijan and at the same time I understand the important strategic position of your country, but the Council of Europe passed this resolution basing on the democratic principles, but not on the economic interests.
If the resolution was based on the oil factor, there wouldn’t be Human Rights, media situation and other issues there. The Council of Europe is the concrete organization. Azerbaijan has to implement the commitments taken to the Council of Europe about the democratization, protection of Human Rights and others. I think my visit to Azerbaijan is not traceless. I concluded after the meeting with the Government officials that we will reach positive results in the fields I’ve touched upon”. Luis Maria de Puig spoke about the current media situation and said the Council of Europe considered the arrest of journalists as unacceptable step.
