Arab Parliament regrets about PACE’s refusal to ratify Azerbaijan’s credentials

President of the Arab Parliament Adel bin Abdul Rahman Al-Asoomi sent a letter on February 13 to President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Theodoros Rousopoulos.

The letter was sent regarding the PACE resolution not to ratify the credentials of the Azerbaijani delegation, Azertac reports.

“The Arab Parliament has followed the resolution adopted by the PACE about the non-ratification of the credentials of the delegation of the Parliament of Azerbaijan to the PACE. The Arab Parliament expresses its deep regret over the adoption of this resolution; the Republic of Azerbaijan is a friend and strategic partner of the Arab States and plays a significant and influential role to preserve cultural diversity and to promote dialogue among civilisations,” the letter reads, according to the Press and Public Relations Department of the Azerbaijani parliament.

The letter highlights that the Republic of Azerbaijan has been a member of the Council of Europe since 2001 and plays a major role in promoting activities of this Organisation and achieving its principles and objectives. At the global level, it makes concerted efforts to lower tensions and conflicts; the role it has played through its chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement and its success is the best proof of that.

The letter also emphasises that at the initiative of the parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network was established, and over a short period, the Network gained a global role in promoting the values and principles of dialogue and cooperation and disseminating a culture of peace and tolerance.

“International multilateral organisations, such as the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, are based on the promotion of dialogue and understanding, and serve as a platform for enhancing cooperation, and they should not lose their strength and unity at the time of increasing conflicts and divisions around the world. Moreover, multilateral parliamentary diplomacy must be an instrument to reconcile points of view, and a wall of resistance in front of any divisions, and an added value for the diffusion of the principles of peace and tolerance,” the letter stresses.

The letter ends with a reiteration of the regrets of the Arab Parliament about the refusal to ratify the credentials of Azerbaijan’s parliamentary delegation. It says that the Arab Parliament counts on the personal and professional support of the PACE President in reviewing the resolution, which contradicts the principles of dialogue and cooperation. The letter calls on the PACE and the Azerbaijani parliament to begin a direct dialogue at the earliest.