Official: US Senate Committee’s statement on Azerbaijan – unfounded, biased

The US Senate Committee’s statement on Azerbaijan is unfounded and biased.

Chairman of the International and Interparliamentary Relations Committee of the Azerbaijani parliament Samad Seyidov said that Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the US Senate Benjamin Cardin’s unfounded, biased statement about the human rights situation in Azerbaijan is regrettable, Report informs.

“We would like to inform Cardin that Azerbaijan has been a reliable and responsible member of the international community since gaining independence in 1991. Azerbaijan’s successful activity on most international platforms is based on the strong and unequivocal support of the international community. In particular, 120 member states of the Non-Aligned Movement recognised our country’s contribution to the development of this, in fact, the second biggest platform in the world after the UN in terms of the number of participants and opportunities for influence, especially within Azerbaijan’s chairmanship in this organisation,” Seyidov said in response to Cardin’s message.   

“Azerbaijan will host COP29 in 2024 - one of the most prestigious events in the world for its role in the further expansion of international dialogue and cooperation, for its respectful attitude towards international rules and norms of interaction, as well as for its principled position. This decision was supported by all members of the international community, including the US itself. However, on the eve of COP29, Senator Cardin, blackmailing Azerbaijan, uses false, unverified data from biased organisations and circles, which is an unfounded and provocative approach developed by the mentioned circles - especially the Armenian lobby - against Azerbaijan,” the statement said.  

“We would recommend Cardin, instead of expressing one-sided and biased views about Azerbaijan, to pay attention to the corruption, bribery and other similar illegal actions in the Foreign Relations Committee of the US Senate. Taking into account the joint activity of his predecessor Robert Menendez with the Armenian patrons in the Committee, based on bribery, theft and personal interests, it would be more useful for Senator Cardin to investigate this corruption case,” the statement says.