Statement on the Human Rights Situation in Azerbaijan

14 February, 2013

ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆԻ ՀԱՆՐԱՊԵՏՈՒԹՅԱՆ ՊԱՏՎԻՐԱԿՈՒԹՅՈՒՆ
DELEGATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE

Statement
On the Human Rights Situation in Azerbaijan
delivered by Ambassador Arman Kirakossian at the 941th Meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council
February 14, 2013

Mr. Chairperson,

My delegation has two brief points with regard to the statements delivered under this current issue.

We share the concerns over the campaign of intimidation against Azerbaijani writer Akram Aylisli.

It is deeply disturbing to see Azerbaijani authorities trying to silence voices advocating reconciliation and peace in their respective society. The same authorities who granted pardon and glorification to Ramil Safarov, a brutal hate crime perpetrator, are now ostracizing and depriving Akram Aylisli, a prominent Azerbaijani writer of his awards. Mr. Aylisli dared to communicate through his literature the ideas of peace and reconciliation with his neighbors. Threats against him triggered yet another officially orchestrated Anti-Armenian campaign in Azerbaijan.

We call on Azerbaijani authorities to uphold OSCE commitments on freedom of expression and combating racism and xenophobia.

My second point goes to the remarks which were put by Norway and Switzerland on certain proposals with regard to the NGO financing in Armenia. We are surprised that the issue of the NGO financing in Armenia is being discussed by Norway and Switzerland under this current issue which as we understand is covering human rights situation in another participating state.

We are also surprised that this statement comments on certain initial discussions and proposals in Armenia which are not yet put into any legislative motion. We understand that there is an attempt to balance something in this organization but we are not sure whether this time the balancing art was relevant.

That being said, I would like to assure that Armenia will use appropriate occasions to introduce its policy towards NGOs in future thematic deliberations. In any case we are not going to make clarification on that issue under this current item.

Thank you.

MFA RA
official website

Dual citizenship

Electronic visa

Visa applications