ARMENIAN LOBBY GROUPS AZERBAIJAN'S KEY ENEMY - PRESIDENT ALIYEV
Interfax
April 17 2012
Russia
Azerbaijan should continue successfully responding to the information
war being waged against it by Armenian lobby groups, Azeri President
Ilham Aliyev said.
"Armenian lobby groups are our enemy no. 1. And we ought to be prepared
for this struggle," Aliyev said at a cabinet session addressing the
results of Azerbaijan's socioeconomic development in the first quarter
of 2012.
Azerbaijan, however, has managed to reverse the situation in its
favor in recent years, the president said.
"Azeri community organizations are growing and Azerbaijan's embassies
abroad are getting stronger. So is our public and our ability to
access the foreign press," he said.
Aliyev complained of the presence of powerful Armenian lobby groups
abroad.
"The primary source of negative information about us is Armenian
lobby groups, as well as political figures in a number of states
feeding dirty money to them," the president said.
"Their circle of influence is quite extensive, and they are represented
in leading printed publications in a number of states.
Sometimes they introduce themselves using other names and hiding their
origin. A person must not hide his ethnicity, but must be proud of it,"
Aliyev said.
Azerbaijan offers unhindered access to the Internet, the president
said.
"Let all those who criticize us remember it," he said.
More than 50% of Azerbaijan's population are Internet users, he said.
"The issue of information security is becoming more relevant in
this situation because provocations are present to a sufficient
extent in the global information space alongside different pieces
of information. These provocations can be either overt or covert. An
information war is being waged against us," the Azeri president said.
Aliyev expressed regret over increasing Islamophobia sentiments in
a number of states, describing this situation as "very negative".
The negative attitude toward Islamic states is growing as well, he
said, reaffirming Azerbaijan's commitment to its multiculturalism
policy.
From: A. Papazian
Interfax
April 17 2012
Russia
Azerbaijan should continue successfully responding to the information
war being waged against it by Armenian lobby groups, Azeri President
Ilham Aliyev said.
"Armenian lobby groups are our enemy no. 1. And we ought to be prepared
for this struggle," Aliyev said at a cabinet session addressing the
results of Azerbaijan's socioeconomic development in the first quarter
of 2012.
Azerbaijan, however, has managed to reverse the situation in its
favor in recent years, the president said.
"Azeri community organizations are growing and Azerbaijan's embassies
abroad are getting stronger. So is our public and our ability to
access the foreign press," he said.
Aliyev complained of the presence of powerful Armenian lobby groups
abroad.
"The primary source of negative information about us is Armenian
lobby groups, as well as political figures in a number of states
feeding dirty money to them," the president said.
"Their circle of influence is quite extensive, and they are represented
in leading printed publications in a number of states.
Sometimes they introduce themselves using other names and hiding their
origin. A person must not hide his ethnicity, but must be proud of it,"
Aliyev said.
Azerbaijan offers unhindered access to the Internet, the president
said.
"Let all those who criticize us remember it," he said.
More than 50% of Azerbaijan's population are Internet users, he said.
"The issue of information security is becoming more relevant in
this situation because provocations are present to a sufficient
extent in the global information space alongside different pieces
of information. These provocations can be either overt or covert. An
information war is being waged against us," the Azeri president said.
Aliyev expressed regret over increasing Islamophobia sentiments in
a number of states, describing this situation as "very negative".
The negative attitude toward Islamic states is growing as well, he
said, reaffirming Azerbaijan's commitment to its multiculturalism
policy.
From: A. Papazian