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At the Plenary Session of PACE Autumn Session the Member of the RA NA Delegation to PACE Naira Karapetyan delivered a speech.

“In April I suggested to have a parliamentary enquiry for our future work. Now I would like to express my hope that having the topic of “Panama papers” on agenda will keep many politicians away from dirty money and offshore scandals.

Yes, Dear Colleagues, in the Draft Resolution we have expressed that “The Parliamentary Assembly is very much concerned about the scope of tax avoidance and evasion in modern societies, now even demonstrably involving well-known companies and public personalities, who should be role models of ethical behaviour. The Assembly considers that a higher standard of ethics in politics and in the business world is essential to uphold our economic, social and democratic systems.”

A few months ago the world was shocked by “Panama Papers” where the very honourary place has the President of Azerbaijan with his family – his wife, his daughters, his sister etc.

The billions dollars of these offshore corporations owned or controlled by female Aliyevs and also those dollars that are spent on a weaponry and military may have been spent on real reforms and democratization of Azerbaijan.

While the presidential family ladies have their nice and leisure life, having billion dollars of income, that even 10 generations of the family will not be able to spend, Aliyev’s regime has prolonged his ruling era by adopting new Constitution, which gives unlimited freedom to have Aliyev’s clan as a ruling regime for many further years. By the way, this so called Constitution was very strongly condemned by the European Commission for Democracy through Law - Venice Commission.

I should say it again and again, yes, dear colleagues, Azerbaijan is a Land of fire, not the fire of life, but the fire of war, fire of horror, fire of crime...

We have recently learned that corrupted high ranked politician is a serious danger not only for the rule of law but also for the one of the main international human rights - right of life. International Consortium of Investigating Journalists has done a great work, and in many counties there were adequate steps taken. But it would be highly appreciative to see adequate actions in all countries, at least No actions, but not quite opposite actions by having new constitutions with new rights for “Panama Papers scandal known” Politician, as it was done in Azerbaijan. And what lessons should we learn after this?

In the text of the Draft Resolution we see the following “The Assembly acknowledges the need to restore citizens’ trust in the European democratic system...”

So, Dear Colleagues, the Investigating Journalists have done a big work, and today we as Parliamentary Assembly, should unite to cut the corruption and financial speculations.

All we need is trust, trust to democracy, trust to real values, that European family has, and trust in having enough strength to cut down any politician, whoever he is, if he or his family deals with any issue, that is against European democratic system. PACE should have enough political will for it.

It would be the best lesson learned.”

Naira Karapetyan’s next speech:

“The report relates to an issue, which at first sight seems not so far important, but it is, and it unites societies, nations, and people. Indeed, Sport is universally seen as the most popular activity in the world. And it supposed to be free and far from politics, from injustice, from inequality, from any form of unbalancing. Sport supposed to be clear and strict. For every sportsman the greatest and most desirable is the winning of the highest competition – The World Olympic Games.

This year was the year that we have had Rio Games, and many of our member states got honour of having Olympic Champions. My country has gold medal as well, so ones more I want to congratulate from here the Olympic Champion of Greco-Roman Wrestling Armenian Arthur Alexanyan.

But unfortunately, even in sports we see a number of injustice cases; we see referees that sometimes judge not by conscience and rules but quite opposite, trying to serve some good turn to some powerful persons. During this Rio Games another Armenian Sportsman, Greco-Roman Wrestler Mihran Harutyunyan was deprived of gold and got silver medal only because of injustice and misjudging. It’s not mandatory to be an expert to see that it is true; all the people who were present were surprised; they were just whistling to the so-called winner and applauding only to the Armenian guy, to Mihran. And this vivid example is not the single one. In boxing we met the same – Narek Abgaryan and Hovhannes Bachkov are also victims of misjudgments.

Dear Colleagues, I call on the Parliamentary Assembly not to turn a blind eye and take proper steps and call on the various international sports federations, the Greco-Roman Federation and the United World Wrestling to pursue this kind of issues. Every single injustice in sports overshadows not only Olympics, but the aim and nature of sports, the faith and willingness to go ahead.

After all, as the father of the modern Olympic Games, Pierre de Coubertin, once said: “The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.” Let me add to this quotation, that if there is a loss of hope, examples of injustice, unfair judgment, one cannot have enough strength of will to take part and go ahead with deep faith in sports.

So, Dear Colleagues, let's return the faith and strengthen it together.”