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HOLLAND 'LACKS INFORMATION' ABOUT AZERBAIJAN
Leyla Tagiyeva News.Az
news.az
http://www.news.az/articles/politics/32118
Feb 28 2011
Azerbaijan
News.Az interviews Tofig Hajili, co-chair of Azeri United, an
organization of Dutch Azerbaijanis.
What is the diaspora in Holland doing to mark the 19th anniversary
of the Khojaly tragedy?
There isn't an official diaspora, organized by the State Committee
for Diaspora Issues, but there have been organizations here for the
past 10-15 years now, for example TurkAzNed, who mark the anniversary
of these tragic events in the established fashion. Our compatriots,
mostly from Igdir and Azerbaijan, gather at the organization, visit
the monument to the victims of Khojaly in the Hague and then usually
gather at the same table.
I regret to say, however, that these events used to be better attended.
Has there been any change in the attitude of the Dutch leadership or
public towards the tragedy and Azerbaijan's territorial problem?
There have been no special changes there. I would even say that we
have lost much of what we achieved, since many activists are now
remote from these matters. As a result, there is a really big lack
of information about the tragedy in Holland. Many people in Holland
ask us why we have so little material about it, why the country~Rs
authorities do not appeal to the international courts and so on.
How strong is the Armenian lobby in Holland and what is its position
in official structures?
The position of the Armenian lobby is very strong; documentaries
about Armenia, about "the poor, suppressed ancient Armenian people~T,
about their "extermination" by Turks and all the rest of their usual
propaganda are shown almost every month or two. We used to have these
things just once or twice a year but it's not in our favour that our
countrymen are less active now.
As a result, the Armenians have done a great job in counter-propaganda;
they work silently, but attain their goals. They have their people
everywhere, they are welcomed everywhere, but nobody wants to listen
to us. We have often met representatives of the Dutch parliament and
been told openly that we cannot expect anything without state support.
Why is their no support for your work?
We are accused of what we have never done, in particular, of contacts
with Alikram Humbatov [leader of a separatist movement in the south
of Azerbaijan, granted asylum in Holland] although he came to see us
only once and since then we haven't been in touch.
In the past, there have been cases of Armenian emigrants, coming to
Holland, trying to pass themselves off as Azerbaijanis or refugees
from Azerbaijan. Is this still a problem?
The problem of pseudoemigrants does not exist now because Holland has
tightened up its laws and stopped accepting guests. Those who came
before are still here but there are almost no new emigrants from the
post-Soviet countries.
From: A. Papazian
Leyla Tagiyeva News.Az
news.az
http://www.news.az/articles/politics/32118
Feb 28 2011
Azerbaijan
News.Az interviews Tofig Hajili, co-chair of Azeri United, an
organization of Dutch Azerbaijanis.
What is the diaspora in Holland doing to mark the 19th anniversary
of the Khojaly tragedy?
There isn't an official diaspora, organized by the State Committee
for Diaspora Issues, but there have been organizations here for the
past 10-15 years now, for example TurkAzNed, who mark the anniversary
of these tragic events in the established fashion. Our compatriots,
mostly from Igdir and Azerbaijan, gather at the organization, visit
the monument to the victims of Khojaly in the Hague and then usually
gather at the same table.
I regret to say, however, that these events used to be better attended.
Has there been any change in the attitude of the Dutch leadership or
public towards the tragedy and Azerbaijan's territorial problem?
There have been no special changes there. I would even say that we
have lost much of what we achieved, since many activists are now
remote from these matters. As a result, there is a really big lack
of information about the tragedy in Holland. Many people in Holland
ask us why we have so little material about it, why the country~Rs
authorities do not appeal to the international courts and so on.
How strong is the Armenian lobby in Holland and what is its position
in official structures?
The position of the Armenian lobby is very strong; documentaries
about Armenia, about "the poor, suppressed ancient Armenian people~T,
about their "extermination" by Turks and all the rest of their usual
propaganda are shown almost every month or two. We used to have these
things just once or twice a year but it's not in our favour that our
countrymen are less active now.
As a result, the Armenians have done a great job in counter-propaganda;
they work silently, but attain their goals. They have their people
everywhere, they are welcomed everywhere, but nobody wants to listen
to us. We have often met representatives of the Dutch parliament and
been told openly that we cannot expect anything without state support.
Why is their no support for your work?
We are accused of what we have never done, in particular, of contacts
with Alikram Humbatov [leader of a separatist movement in the south
of Azerbaijan, granted asylum in Holland] although he came to see us
only once and since then we haven't been in touch.
In the past, there have been cases of Armenian emigrants, coming to
Holland, trying to pass themselves off as Azerbaijanis or refugees
from Azerbaijan. Is this still a problem?
The problem of pseudoemigrants does not exist now because Holland has
tightened up its laws and stopped accepting guests. Those who came
before are still here but there are almost no new emigrants from the
post-Soviet countries.
From: A. Papazian