Statement of Azerbaijan`s Foreign Ministry

Baku, May 6 (AZERTAC). Spokesperson of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released a statement in response to the Joint Statement made by the Spokespersons of EU High Representative and European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy on 3rd May 2014.

The statement reads: “Joint Statement made by the Spokespersons of EU High Representative and European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy on May 3, 2014 having political nature falls short of the reality on the ground, and attempts to distort the true sense of the legal proceedings instituted with regard to Rauf Mirgadirov and call of Leyla Yunusova and Arif Yunusov as witnesses in this process.

Investigation launched by the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan is not related to their journalistic or civil society activities. While the case is under the investigation, any early judgments and politically motivated statements are nothing but attempts to interfere into and to exert pressure on the investigation. It is also absolutely unacceptable from the rule of law’s point of view.

As it is well-known, Azerbaijan has always been supportive to inter-communal dialogue between Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan. We believe that such a dialogue conducive to mutual understanding and confidence, will significantly contribute to the peace process as a whole.”