Baku: 'We Should Review our Ties with the European Union'

Azerbaijan-EU tension.

Baku has said that it will review its relationship with the European Union following a resolution that was passed in the European Parliament on September 10, severely criticizing the Azerbaijani regime for human rights violations.

Azerbaijan also cancelled a European commission delegation visit on September 11 according to Reuters.

The resolution calls for the immediate and unconditional release from jail of all political prisoners, human rights defenders, journalists and other civil society activists, including Khadija Ismayilova, Leyla Yunus and Arif Yunus, in line with the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights and/or a prompt investigation into the death of the journalist Rasim Aliyev.

It demands that the Azerbaijan government immediately end its crackdown on civil society and human rights work and says that ‘the negotiations for a Strategic Partnership Agreement with Azerbaijan should be immediately put on hold as long the government fails to take concrete steps in advancing respect for universal human rights.’

The resolution calls on the Commission ‘to review and suspend temporarily, if needed, all funding not related to human rights, civil society and grassroots level people-to-people cooperation granted to Azerbaijan through the European Neighbourhood Instrument, and recalls Parliament’s decision to send a delegation to Azerbaijan.’

According to Reuters, Baku insists that “the country enjoys full free speech and a lively opposition media.”

In a statement, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said, “The decision to cancel the visit is linked to a biased resolution on Azerbaijan. In general, we should review our ties with the European Union, where anti-Azeri and anti-Islam tendencies are strong.”

Also on September 11, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry summoned Malena Mard, the resident EU delegation chief in Azerbaijan to discuss the resolution and was told by Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mammad Guliyev that it was a serious blow to Azerbaijani-EU relations.

According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s bureau in Baku, Guliyev said, “[T]he humiliating language of certain provisions goes beyond ethical norms and frameworks. The absurd and outrageous accusations against the country are totally unacceptable and seriously undermines the organization's credibility. In addition, the calls for targeted sanctions and visa bans are absolutely unreasonable and unacceptable".

Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Ali Hasanov also expressed concern and discontent with the European Parliament resolution. In a statement to Azertac, Hasanov said these resolutions are a “result of certain Islamophobic, pro-Armenian circles and their inability to handle Azerbaijan's independent political rhetoric and its successes.”

Many of Azerbaijan's detractors have felt that Azerbaijan's energy industry has been the reason that the West has treaded carefully with the administration in Baku over the myriad of human rights violations in the country. This latest resolution by the European parliament is the harshest one to date.