PACE undermines its legitimacy by excluding Azerbaijani delegation

Elvira Kovacs, a member of the Serbian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), stated that the Assembly is undermining its own legitimacy by excluding Azerbaijan's delegation.

"PACE is the European political body with the broadest democratic legitimacy, as it reflects the composition of the parliaments of almost all European countries. The decision since January of this year not to ratify the credentials of the Azerbaijani delegation risks undermining its own legitimacy," Kovacs said, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

She pointed out that in addition to harming its legitimacy, this decision erodes trust in PACE as a platform for constructive dialogue, as at least 10 million citizens of a European country are no longer represented and have lost their voice in the Assembly.

"Today, Azerbaijan is an important factor in the international order, based on law, peace, and security. Its cultural achievements are an integral part of the European cultural mosaic, and its natural resources are vital for the well-being of our continent. Azerbaijan is located in a region where the values of the Council of Europe are contested, and they are certainly not universally accepted as the optimal way of life. I believe that the refusal to grant credentials to Azerbaijan's delegation in the Council of Europe, where citizens are most directly represented, was a mistake," Kovac emphasized.

The Serbian MP argued that the full participation of the Azerbaijani delegation in PACE would contribute to the polarization of European values and democratic procedures among a significant portion of the population.

"I would like to support and call for a return to dialogue and the resumption of Azerbaijan's participation in PACE. I hope we can agree that PACE must function as a platform for dialogue on an equal and inclusive basis, with priority given to promoting this idea," Kovac added.

By Khagan Isayev