France, Strasbourg, April 13 /Trend, A. Magerramli/
Though Georgia and Azerbaijan have been PACE member states for several years already, no serious results in the restoration of territorial integrity of both states have so far been achieved, Ganira Pashayeva, member of the Azerbaijani parliamentary delegation to the PACE, reported in her speech on report "Fulfillment of Commitment on Georgia" on the third working day of the PACE spring plenary session.
In her speech, the parliamentarian said she had visited Georgia frequently as head of the Azerbaijan-Georgia inter-parliamentary friendship group and thereby had the opportunity to watch processes in the country firsthand.
"I have been heading the Azerbaijan-Georgia inter-parliamentary friendship group for six years and, given that I visit Georgia frequently, I have the opportunity to observe processes going on there. We remember well what the democracy, human rights and corruption situation there was. However, Georgia has done a lot of work to develop democracy, defend human rights and supremacy of the law, and combat corruption over several recent years. Everyone can see it. Of course, in Georgia like anywhere else, there are problems that wait for their solution. But the most important thing is that there is political willingness to eliminate problems, that steps are made to solve them, and that Georgia develops in all spheres", said Pashayeva.
As noted in the report, development of democratic institutes, human rights defense and supremacy of the law in Georgia is also extremely important, essential for national minorities inhabiting this country, she said.
"The entire national minorities, including Azerbaijanis who are the biggest national minority of Georgia certainly back their country's work in this direction. We hope that the Government of Georgia, as noted in the report, will accelerate work to defend the rights of national minorities, and provide their larger integration with the community and state and public government system", she said.
In Georgia, the worst problem for all its citizens regardless from their nationality is the violation of the country's territorial integrity, the parliamentarian said.
"I think we should pay great attention to this issue when it is under discussion. Though Georgia and Azerbaijan have been PACE member states for several years already, no serious results in the restoration of territorial integrity of both states have so far been achieved. "Grey zones", which are beyond international control, are a serious threat to European security", Pashayeva said.