PACE President: "I am objective"
PACE President Mevlut Cavusoglu today was doing everything he could to try to convince Armenian journalists that although he was a Turk, he would be objective even for the Karabakh conflict settlement.
He stressed that the establishment of a subcommittee on the conflict was not his initiative, but simply the demand by a PACE resolution adopted in 2005.
"The ad-hoc subcommittee on the Karabakh conflict functioned until the death of president of the committee Russel Johnston. There is no agreement on who can preside. The issue has been on the bureau's agenda for a couple of years now. As president, it is my obligation to be consistent with the agenda until the election of a new president. That is the reason why after taking office, I have been concerned with both sides. I have had private talks with the heads of both delegations and we have reached agreements on continuing the non-formal meetings and involve the oppositionists from both sides until we reach a solution, find the format that will be acceptable for both sides," said Mevlut Cavusoglu.
Can the PACE President who has been head of the Turkish delegation for years and has announced that Armenia has "occupied" 20% of Azerbaijan's territory be objective?
"I wouldn't like to comment on those statements that I have made as the head of the Turkish delegation, but as president, all 47 countries are equal and must be treated equally," he said.
Why did you refuse to visit Tsitsernakaberd? "There is no point in the Assembly's rules and regulations that the president must go to certain places. When you look at the official visits of previous presidents, they haven't gone either. This was my personal decision. I respect your opinion and everyone has to respect my decision."
The PACE President met with journalists after his meeting with the RA authorities and the opposition. According to him, he has conveyed the concerns of the opposition in relation to the events of March 1.
Mevlut Cavusoglu stressed that nobody has been brought to justice after two years for the 10 murders on March 1. Not using the term "political prisoner", he noted that there are still people in prison, particularly Nikol Pashinyan. According to him, Armenia must implement a number of reforms, especially electoral, judicial and in the spheres of freedom of presses. He expressed hope that the broadcasting tender to be held in July would ensure pluralism. "I hope that there will be progress in July."
Mevlut Cavusoglu may visit Armenia in October, but to participate in the CE Democracy Forum.
Let us add that although the NKR authorities had proposed the PACE to observe the May 23 National Assembly elections, there will not be an observatory mission. As Mevlut Cavusoglu explained, "the PACE doesn't send observers to observe elections in the zone of frozen conflicts."
