PACE member: PACE's double standards can undermine trust in this organization

There should be no place for double standards in an organization such as the Council of Europe (CoE), Stefan Jovanovic, a member of the Serbian delegation to PACE, told Report.

He noted that the non-participation of the Azerbaijani delegation in the work of the assembly is unlikely to benefit the Council of Europe as an organization.

“The Council of Europe serves as a platform for cooperation and dialogue, and the absence of Azerbaijan in PACE will become an obstacle for the organization to effectively solve regional problems,” he said.

He added that the reaction of the Azerbaijani delegation to the fact that some PACE members questioned its authority is not surprising.

The PACE member reminded that the Council of Europe has repeatedly taken a principled position regarding the need to respect the territorial integrity of the organization’s members.

“The Council of Europe needs to ensure that these principles are respected without double standards. This is extremely important for maintaining the authority and effectiveness of the organization,” he said.

He also expressed belief that PACE should strive for consistency and fairness in its actions and decisions, treating all participating countries equally.

“Double standards can undermine the organization’s credibility and hinder its ability to promote cooperation and dialogue among member countries,” he concluded.