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BAKU 'REGRETS' US HUMAN RIGHTS COMMENTS
news.az
Dec 12 2011
Azerbaijan
A Foreign Ministry spokesman has expressed regret at a reference to
Azerbaijan in remarks by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
"It's regrettable that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton makes
completely groundless allegations about Azerbaijan," Foreign Ministry
spokesman Elman Abdullayev told 1news.az
He was commenting on a reference to Azerbaijan in a press statement
by the US secretary of state to mark International Human Rights Day.
"The violence we have witnessed this year against people exercising
their universal rights to free expression, assembly, and association
reminds us of the distance that exists between the values inscribed
in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the realities for
many people around the world. From Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe, political
prisoners still languish in jail for speaking, writing or advocating
peacefully for their beliefs," Hillary Clinton said in the statement.
"This accusation can be considered completely biased, especially
taking into consideration the fact that the Declaration of Human Rights
doesn't have a commonly accepted definition of political prisoners,"
Elman Abdullayev said.
He said it was not exactly clear what the US secretary of state meant.
"In addition, the statement clearly contradicts the spirit of
partnership formed between our countries, considering that Azerbaijan
always shows commitment to the principles of democracy, human rights
and supremacy of the law," Abdullayev claimed.
He claimed that as a young country Azerbaijan is making progress
in democracy.
"We have proved many times that the Azerbaijan Republic is making
rapid progress in the consolidation of democratic institutions,
observation of human rights and supremacy of the law. Unfortunately,
these achievements are not reflected in the statement of our partner,"
Abdullayev told 1news.az.
"In this context, it's worth noting that a one-sided approach can be
clearly seen in the statement of the US official in relation to other
South Caucasus countries. For example, the US side in its assessments
hardly mentioned Armenia while serious fraud in the elections was
recorded in this country and protesters faced unprecedented pressure
and shooting in the streets. Moreover, the fact that Armenia occupied
Azerbaijani lands and drove one million Azerbaijani people from their
homes goes unnoticed," Abdullayev said.
He concluded that statements of that kind caused nothing but regret.
news.az
Dec 12 2011
Azerbaijan
A Foreign Ministry spokesman has expressed regret at a reference to
Azerbaijan in remarks by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
"It's regrettable that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton makes
completely groundless allegations about Azerbaijan," Foreign Ministry
spokesman Elman Abdullayev told 1news.az
He was commenting on a reference to Azerbaijan in a press statement
by the US secretary of state to mark International Human Rights Day.
"The violence we have witnessed this year against people exercising
their universal rights to free expression, assembly, and association
reminds us of the distance that exists between the values inscribed
in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the realities for
many people around the world. From Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe, political
prisoners still languish in jail for speaking, writing or advocating
peacefully for their beliefs," Hillary Clinton said in the statement.
"This accusation can be considered completely biased, especially
taking into consideration the fact that the Declaration of Human Rights
doesn't have a commonly accepted definition of political prisoners,"
Elman Abdullayev said.
He said it was not exactly clear what the US secretary of state meant.
"In addition, the statement clearly contradicts the spirit of
partnership formed between our countries, considering that Azerbaijan
always shows commitment to the principles of democracy, human rights
and supremacy of the law," Abdullayev claimed.
He claimed that as a young country Azerbaijan is making progress
in democracy.
"We have proved many times that the Azerbaijan Republic is making
rapid progress in the consolidation of democratic institutions,
observation of human rights and supremacy of the law. Unfortunately,
these achievements are not reflected in the statement of our partner,"
Abdullayev told 1news.az.
"In this context, it's worth noting that a one-sided approach can be
clearly seen in the statement of the US official in relation to other
South Caucasus countries. For example, the US side in its assessments
hardly mentioned Armenia while serious fraud in the elections was
recorded in this country and protesters faced unprecedented pressure
and shooting in the streets. Moreover, the fact that Armenia occupied
Azerbaijani lands and drove one million Azerbaijani people from their
homes goes unnoticed," Abdullayev said.
He concluded that statements of that kind caused nothing but regret.