Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 12 / Trend /
Trend commentator Elmira Tariverdiyeva
For ordinary citizens of Azerbaijan, another EU response to developments in the country generates a simple question: "Based on what agreements and laws do Western institutions have the right to interfere in the internal processes of third countries?"
Once again, the EU Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fule intervened in the affairs of another country. EU officials have expressed concern about the arrest of deputy head of the Musavat party Tofig Yagublu and chairman of the Real movement Ilgar Mammadov.
A mass conflict connected with biased hooliganism occurred in Ismayilli region on January 23. Property was damaged by a drunk administrator of the Chirag Hotel named Emil Shamdinov and his friend Elmeddin Mammadov. Afterwards, Chirag hotel and various cars were burnt by a group of people who gathered there.
Who are the judges? And how does the West know the better and more correct way? How often do European commissioners criticize the arrests of immigrants burning cars on the streets of London and Paris by British and French authorities? Although in this case, they would seem to have every right, as both France and Britain are EU members.
Such examples are obvious. In the heart of the EU, Strasbourg, a city where PACE meetings are held and the headquarters of the European Parliament and the Council of Europe are located, the French police dislodged the eye of 24-year-old metallurgist from Belgium, who participated in protests. German steelmakers arrived in France, to complain to EU authorities regarding concerns over a decision to close some of the production facilities in Europe, and held a rally in front of the European Parliament.
Rally participants protesting the closure of six companies due to declining demand for steel in Europe did not burn cars and behaved peacefully. However, security forces used batons, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse them.
`However, no response followed from Fule or Ashton regarding these issues. Hence, European law enforcement officers have the right to break up peaceful protest with batons, while Azerbaijani opposition representatives who are burning cars should be immune?
Why do third party countries remain the main target for assaults by official EU representatives'? This applies not only to Azerbaijan.
Almost immediately after the statements on Azerbaijan Fule attempted to 'teach life' to Kiev, but received quite tough resistance. An MP from the Party of Regions Vadym Kolesnichenko said that the policy of the European Union towards Ukraine is boorish, as the EU is interfering in Ukraine's internal affairs. He accused Brussels of using double standards, the Observer Journal said.
As Kolisnichenko said, Fule exceeded his authority, demanding the release of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and former Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko because these are domestic policy issues.
The question remains: "Why does the West tell sovereign countries, with approved Constitutions, justice systems and legal institutions, who should be released from prison, and who was treated unfairly?" Based on what is the EU given such a right?
Issues surrounding the release, arrest and judicial proceedings against detainees are under the jurisdiction of the judicial system and the court issues the sentence. This is an internal matter of any country, and if the matter does not concern the detention of an EU citizen outside Europe, the EU has no right to speak on the matter, condemn the country or demand the release of its citizens. There is no such practice in international law!
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry considers statements made by EU officials concerning detainees in connection with the events in Ismayilli as the factor of pressure on the investigation and scorns the intervention in investigative process, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev told reporters on Sunday.
The reaction of Baku did not make them wait. Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry considers statements made by EU officials concerning detainees in connection with the events in Ismayilli as the factor of pressure on the investigation and scorns the intervention in investigative process, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev told reporters on Sunday.
No one has such a right to interfere in the investigation, he said.
But will the outrage of Baku be heard? Or will the West continue to maintain a close relationship with the citizens of Azerbaijan, which expect to get permanent residence in Europe and support from the West from minor hooliganism, simply because they call themselves "opposition"? Is Mr. Fule informed about presence of policy framework under the fashionable word "oppositionist ", which can easily be speculated in relations with Europe?