Azerbaijan rejects European Commissioner's statements on human rights

Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada has strongly condemned the "unacceptable, unfounded, and totally biased" anti-Azerbaijani statements made by Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, during a debate at the European Parliament on October 22.

Hajizada described the Commissioner's remarks, prepared by the European External Action Service (EEAS), as "fully detached from reality" and characterized them as part of ongoing unsuccessful attempts to interfere in Azerbaijan's internal affairs, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Ministry's press service.

"The claim that some Azerbaijani citizens are being prosecuted due to their political beliefs or viewpoints, or that criminal proceedings involving individuals introducing themselves as journalists or human rights advocates have political motives are fundamentally wrong," he said.

He criticized the EEAS and the European Parliament for their "harmful approach," asserting that it has long been ineffective and complicates relations between Azerbaijan and Europe.

"In light of total ignorance and indifference by the relevant European Union institutions to the aggression by Armenia against Azerbaijan that lasted almost 30 years, entrenched systemic problems in some EU countries in the field of human rights, rising Islamophobia, and hideous neo-colonial policy, the loss of lives in prisons as a result of political persecution and during protests such as 'yellow vests,' the European Commissioner has no moral right to talk about human rights issues in Azerbaijan and peace efforts between Azerbaijan and Armenia," the spokesperson said.

Hajizada also criticized attempts to link the upcoming 29th session of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) with politically motivated issues irrelevant to climate change. He stated, "This once again demonstrated the real face of some European politicians."

In conclusion, he urged the European Parliament and the EU as a whole to abandon their unilateral position, which he argued is against peace and stability in the region.

By Khagan Isayev