CoE Committee of Ministers Chairman to visit Azerbaijan next week

[ 22 April 2015 17:10 ]

The Belgian FM answered a question asked by Rovshan Rzayev, a member of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE.

Rzayev asked, “After the invasion of their native lands in Azerbaijan, the IDPs are unable to participate in municipal elections in their regions. Who should bear responsible for the violation of this constitutional right of theirs? Furthermore, I would like to know, what can we do to secure the release of Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev, the two Azerbaijanis being illegally held in Nagorno-Karabakh?”

In response, Reynders said he will visit Armenia and Azerbaijan next week, expressing his concern over the developments on the contact line.  

“The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be resolved by political means through the mediation of OSCE, which plays a leading role in the negotiation process, and the Council of Europe. As for the state of refugees and internally displaced persons, we need first to meet with them to see their living conditions. I urge all governments to facilitate our meetings with refugees. This is their both de jure and de facto duty. Most international organizations, including the Council of Europe can contribute to the process,” he noted.  

Reynders said he will meet with refugees and IDPs during his visit to Azerbaijan next week.