Cooperation with Azerbaijan goes more through European structure than on bilateral basis, says Serhiy Holovaty

Constitutional courts work more as part of regional cooperation, Acting Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Serhiy Holovaty told Report.

"We belong to the Conference of European Constitutional Courts. As part of this structure, there is an exchange of experience among national courts and we have the opportunity to borrow some experience. In any case, cooperation goes more through the European structure than on a bilateral basis. Each country has its own constitution and each side defends its own constitution," he said.

"We started cooperation with the Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan back in 1999. There were regular meetings in Ukraine and Azerbaijan. In 2010, Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Yurii Baulin took part in the events dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan. He presented the Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan with a diploma of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine for his contribution to the development of our relations. In 2015, the Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan supported the Constitutional Court of Ukraine when a meeting of the chairmen of the Conference of European Constitutional Courts was held in Batumi. At that time, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine proposed the idea of adopting a declaration regarding the protection of the territorial integrity of their states. Then a joint statement was adopted, emphasizing that the Constitutional Courts shouldn't remain indifferent when it comes to protecting the democratic rule of law, etc. Lithuania, Poland, Moldova, Cyprus and also Azerbaijan joined this statement," he added.