The Speaker of the Parliament of Azerbaijan, Sahiba Gafarova, accused the European Parliament of trying to use the upcoming United Nations Climate Summit, the COP29, which will be held in Baku next month, as a tool for political pressure on Azerbaijan.
“Climate change is a global problem, the solution to which requires unity, but this issue is used to promote an agenda directed against Azerbaijan,” Gafarova said on Tuesday during an address to parliament.
Gafarova also accused the European Parliament of having become “a tool in the hands of forces leading a hostile and slanderous campaign against Azerbaijan.”
“Azerbaijan is open to political dialogue and cooperation, but we resolutely reject unfounded accusations and demands, aggressive rhetoric,” she stressed.
Gafarova’s comments come a week after the European Parliament overwhelmingly passed a resolution condemning Azerbaijan’s ongoing threats against Armenia. The measure also called on Baku to ensure the safe return of Artsakh Armenians who were forcibly displaced following last year’s attack on Artsakh. The European Parliament members also called on the EU to end its energy cooperation with Azerbaijan.
The European Parliament resolution also not only compels Baku to comply with numerous rulings by the International Court of Justice, but points out Azerbaijan’s abhorrent human rights record ahead of the United Nations Climate Summit, the COP29, which will convene in Baku next month.
The resolution promoted Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry to summon the EU’s Ambassador to that country, Peter Michalko, and handed him a note of protest regarding the European Parliament resolution.
The Azerbaijani foreign ministry said on Friday that the continuation of what it called a “smear campaign against Azerbaijan through various institutions of the EU, statements and actions that attack the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, interfere in its internal affairs, promote revanchism in Armenia, thereby harming peace efforts in the region,” reported News.az.
“Republic of Azerbaijan builds its relations with the European Union on the basis of norms and principles of international law, mutual respect, equality and common benefit, and the other side is called upon to strictly follow these fundamental principles,” the statement added.
“We request that the European Union refrain from prejudicial steps that violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan, interfere in its internal affairs, and harm peace and stability in the region,” Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry said.
In a statement that was issued on Friday, the Azerbaijani Parliament accused the European Parliament of “anti-Azerbaijani stance,” noting that the resolution “presents a collection of claims based on disinformation along with unfounded accusations, threats, and demands.”
“It demonstrates an open disregard for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty while also attempting to interfere in its internal affairs. Furthermore, it exhibits an alarming bias by showing special concern for Armenia, encouraging its military buildup, and thus fostering revanchist tendencies that could reignite regional conflict,” the statement added.
“The European Parliament’s stance reflects a hostile attitude toward Azerbaijan’s initiatives aimed at promoting peace, stability, and cooperation both regionally and globally. The politicization and use of significant issues like climate change as tools for accusations against Azerbaijan is troubling,” the statement said.
