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PRESIDENT SLAMS FOREIGN FORCES OVER "INFORMATION WARFARE" AGAINST AZERBAIJAN
AzTV Baku
April 16 2012
Azerbaijan
[translated from Azeri]
Information warfare is being waged against Azerbaijan by foreign
forces, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has said.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting on 16 April on the results of the first
quarter of 2012, Aliyev said that there were four forces that committed
"information provocations" against the country.
"Surely, the Armenian lobby is especially active in this information
warfare," the president said in the speech, which was broadcast on
the state Azerbaijani television. He accused the Armenian lobby of
wrongly presenting Azerbaijan as a backward and undemocratic country
to the world.
The president said the second force were foreign political figures
influenced by the Armenian lobby and earning their "dirty money".
"We know their names, we know them. Suffice it to look at the number
of their visits to the self-proclaimed Nagornyy Karabakh republic,
to understand why they go there," Aliyev said.
The president went on to say that the third force were politicians
"infected by Islamophobia". "These forces become unhappy and frustrated
when they see that Azerbaijan is a positive, modern country which
pursues an independent policy and is loyal to Islamic values. We should
always bear this factor in mind and try to change the situation in
our favour through our policies," he said.
The fourth force waging the information warfare does not accept
Azerbaijan's independent policies, the president said. "They believe
that Azerbaijan should not be pursuing independent policies, that
someone else should take it under their wing... There are also forces
that we know, that are secretly fighting against Azerbaijan. In some
cases they are waging this fight covertly, in the media field in a
cowardly manner," Aliyev said.
"We must respond to every ungrounded attack, and we do so," he added.
The president said that some forces used "information provocations"
in order to disturb the situation in the region and set Azerbaijan
against its neighbours.
"Azerbaijan will never get involved in the plans of foreign
countries... Azerbaijan will not turn into a confrontation arena.
Those who want to do so should go and look for another place. We will
never let our territory be used in some malicious plans against our
neighbours," he said.
Foreign media criticized
Aliyev said that "a smear campaign" was under way in foreign media
against Azerbaijan in connection with the Eurovision Song Contest to
be held in Baku in late May.
"We know full well what forces are behind this campaign," he said.
"There are countries that publish slanders about Azerbaijan every
week, even every day. Naturally, this is a coordinated policy. But
this policy will never succeed. Because there is no force that could
influence our policies and there will be none as long as I am in
this chair."
The president criticized foreign media for speculating on the
demolition of illegally-built houses in Baku and for attempts to
link the demolitions to Eurovision. "This is part of a smear campaign
against Azerbaijan. Lies are reported, slanders are published.
Unfortunately, respectable TV channels and newspapers are involved
in this provocation," Aliyev said.
He said that some 2,000 dollars are paid per square metre to owners
of the demolished houses in compensation and that the majority of the
owners are happy with this. "However, there are subversive forces that
are trying to take advantage of the situation and to link the general
process of renovation in our city to some events," the president said.
Human rights, freedoms ensured
Aliyev said that democracy, human rights and freedoms were ensured in
Azerbaijan, including freedom of the internet, conscience and assembly.
"The Azerbaijani public have seen that there is freedom of assembly
in our country," the president said, apparently referring to a rally
held by the opposition Public Chamber on 8 April. "If those who would
like to use this opportunity observe normal code of conduct and hold
their rallies at venues designated by the city authorities, then they
can benefit from freedom of assembly."
Anti-corruption fight, energy security
Aliyev said that the fight against corruption and bribery should be
stepped up. "Making electronic services widely available is a major
factor in the fight against corruption and bribery," he said.
"International experience should be fully applied, both administrative
and punitive actions should be stepped up in this regard. At the same
time, systemic and institutional reforms should be speeded up. The
fight should not abate even for a day or a minute. This problem should
always be in the focus."
He also said that 300m manats, or 384.6m dollars, has been allocated
from the Oil Fund on a project to improve the living conditions of
displaced persons, which is to be completed by the end of this year.
Azerbaijan is recognized as a reliable partner in the energy security
field, the president said.
"We are involved in the energy security of other countries... We will
resolve energy security issues with partner countries on the basis of
mutual interests and mutual benefits. Today, Azerbaijan is turning
into a very important global player both in the oil and gas field,
the number of our partners is growing," Aliyev said.
From: A. Papazian
AzTV Baku
April 16 2012
Azerbaijan
[translated from Azeri]
Information warfare is being waged against Azerbaijan by foreign
forces, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has said.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting on 16 April on the results of the first
quarter of 2012, Aliyev said that there were four forces that committed
"information provocations" against the country.
"Surely, the Armenian lobby is especially active in this information
warfare," the president said in the speech, which was broadcast on
the state Azerbaijani television. He accused the Armenian lobby of
wrongly presenting Azerbaijan as a backward and undemocratic country
to the world.
The president said the second force were foreign political figures
influenced by the Armenian lobby and earning their "dirty money".
"We know their names, we know them. Suffice it to look at the number
of their visits to the self-proclaimed Nagornyy Karabakh republic,
to understand why they go there," Aliyev said.
The president went on to say that the third force were politicians
"infected by Islamophobia". "These forces become unhappy and frustrated
when they see that Azerbaijan is a positive, modern country which
pursues an independent policy and is loyal to Islamic values. We should
always bear this factor in mind and try to change the situation in
our favour through our policies," he said.
The fourth force waging the information warfare does not accept
Azerbaijan's independent policies, the president said. "They believe
that Azerbaijan should not be pursuing independent policies, that
someone else should take it under their wing... There are also forces
that we know, that are secretly fighting against Azerbaijan. In some
cases they are waging this fight covertly, in the media field in a
cowardly manner," Aliyev said.
"We must respond to every ungrounded attack, and we do so," he added.
The president said that some forces used "information provocations"
in order to disturb the situation in the region and set Azerbaijan
against its neighbours.
"Azerbaijan will never get involved in the plans of foreign
countries... Azerbaijan will not turn into a confrontation arena.
Those who want to do so should go and look for another place. We will
never let our territory be used in some malicious plans against our
neighbours," he said.
Foreign media criticized
Aliyev said that "a smear campaign" was under way in foreign media
against Azerbaijan in connection with the Eurovision Song Contest to
be held in Baku in late May.
"We know full well what forces are behind this campaign," he said.
"There are countries that publish slanders about Azerbaijan every
week, even every day. Naturally, this is a coordinated policy. But
this policy will never succeed. Because there is no force that could
influence our policies and there will be none as long as I am in
this chair."
The president criticized foreign media for speculating on the
demolition of illegally-built houses in Baku and for attempts to
link the demolitions to Eurovision. "This is part of a smear campaign
against Azerbaijan. Lies are reported, slanders are published.
Unfortunately, respectable TV channels and newspapers are involved
in this provocation," Aliyev said.
He said that some 2,000 dollars are paid per square metre to owners
of the demolished houses in compensation and that the majority of the
owners are happy with this. "However, there are subversive forces that
are trying to take advantage of the situation and to link the general
process of renovation in our city to some events," the president said.
Human rights, freedoms ensured
Aliyev said that democracy, human rights and freedoms were ensured in
Azerbaijan, including freedom of the internet, conscience and assembly.
"The Azerbaijani public have seen that there is freedom of assembly
in our country," the president said, apparently referring to a rally
held by the opposition Public Chamber on 8 April. "If those who would
like to use this opportunity observe normal code of conduct and hold
their rallies at venues designated by the city authorities, then they
can benefit from freedom of assembly."
Anti-corruption fight, energy security
Aliyev said that the fight against corruption and bribery should be
stepped up. "Making electronic services widely available is a major
factor in the fight against corruption and bribery," he said.
"International experience should be fully applied, both administrative
and punitive actions should be stepped up in this regard. At the same
time, systemic and institutional reforms should be speeded up. The
fight should not abate even for a day or a minute. This problem should
always be in the focus."
He also said that 300m manats, or 384.6m dollars, has been allocated
from the Oil Fund on a project to improve the living conditions of
displaced persons, which is to be completed by the end of this year.
Azerbaijan is recognized as a reliable partner in the energy security
field, the president said.
"We are involved in the energy security of other countries... We will
resolve energy security issues with partner countries on the basis of
mutual interests and mutual benefits. Today, Azerbaijan is turning
into a very important global player both in the oil and gas field,
the number of our partners is growing," Aliyev said.
From: A. Papazian