CoE Sec Gen on Baku visit: perhaps we could phrase it differently

PanARMENIAN.Net - During the plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) winter session, Armen Gevorgyan, head of the Armenian delegation to PACE, questioned the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, about his visit to Azerbaijan and the related press release. In response, Berset admitted that "perhaps a different wording should have been used."

"You have taken a short excerpt from our press release about the visit to Baku. So now I would like to say a few things about my visit to Azerbaijan," he stated, as reported by Aravot.am .

Referring to the official statement on Alain Berset’s visit to Baku within the framework of COP29, Armen Gevorgyan noted: "According to the official press release on your meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku last November, you highlighted Azerbaijan’s significant contribution to interfaith and intercultural dialogue. If this is your sincere assessment, it could be perceived as encouraging the Azerbaijani authoritarian regime’s inhumane treatment of Armenian prisoners of war and the ongoing destruction of Armenian cultural and religious heritage. What would you say to the families of the victims of the genocide committed in Artsakh?"

In response, Berset clarified that the excerpt Gevorgyan cited referred specifically to the fact that the Council of Europe had been invited to an international, interfaith conference within COP29.

"From this perspective, I understand your observation—perhaps a different wording should have been used. However, the statement was specifically focused on this aspect. I want to stress that it was an important opportunity to visit Baku last year," Berset explained.

He also acknowledged the difficulties concerning Azerbaijan and emphasized the importance of making progress. "I am not saying movement for the sake of movement, but for us, it is crucial that the ECHR rulings are implemented. It is also important that Azerbaijan’s 2022-2025 action plan is executed, which is currently suspended due to monitoring activities and cooperation with PACE committees. That is why we held meetings in Baku," he stated.

Berset further mentioned that before and after his visit to Baku, he was in contact with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, underlining that the Armenian government is aware of the support being provided to Armenia in this situation.