‘Due to the European Court of Human Rights and its very existence, the people of the Council of Europe may enjoy the same system of international human rights guarantees’

Ladies and gentlemen, the European Court of Human Rights exists until we believe in it. Twenty years ago when we joined this organisation we believed in the European Court of Human Rights and in European values. Now we believe in European values and in the European Court of Human Rights. I do believe that in the future we will believe in European values and in the European Court of Human Rights.

Ladies and gentlemen, honourable colleagues, the implementation of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights is not only the fulfilment of its final verdicts, but it’s also the respect of all the other rulings adopted by the European Court of Human Rights. Honourable colleagues, after the ceasefire, the European Court of Human Rights adopted a large number of interim measures demanding Azerbaijani authorities to provide relevant information about Armenian hostages kept by Azerbaijan. Up until today, the European Court of Human Rights got nothing. Up until today, Azerbaijan is reluctant to provide relevant information, minimum information, about the physical conditions of Armenian hostages. I would like to solemnly declare that these people are kept by Azerbaijan not because they have committed any crime but just for being Armenian. Can you imagine that in the 21st century we may have, as a member of the Council of Europe, a State that actually has a policy of state-sponsored racial discrimination against Armenians? Being Armenian is a threat to physical security and the very existence of Armenians in Azerbaijan.

Honourable colleagues, I do believe that European values are crucial for the building of democracy in our continents. I do believe that the fulfilment of the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights are quite important. I do believe that we should join forces to release the hostages kept in Azerbaijan, the only basis of which is racial discrimination. I think we cannot tolerate the existence of a racist state within the Council of Europe. All the countries of the Council of Europe should respect the European Court of Human Rights and its rulings.

Thank you.