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THE IRONY OF FATE OR THE REVERSE EFFECT OF THE SONG CONTEST
http://artsakhtert.com/eng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=707:t he-irony-of-fate-or-the-reverse-effect-of-the-song-contest&catid=3:all&Itemid=4
Monday, 04 June 2012 05:11
Judging by the latest publications in the world press, in which the
criticism of the situation on human rights and freedom of speech in
Azerbaijan is sounded more frequently and sharper, heavy times for this
country are coming. I must say that, in fact, the problem of democratic
freedoms was always available in Azerbaijan, but due to some reasons,
which will be noted below, the corresponding international structures
preferred to turn a blind eye to them.
We can say that the ice was broken when two young Azeri bloggers,
who placed a satirical video at the Internet, in which they ridiculed
the corruption in the government structures, were imprisoned for
one and a half years. Such a harsh reaction of official Baku caused
a flurry of angry criticism by many human rights organizations,
in particular, the well-known Amnesty International. Since then, the
"record" of Azerbaijan on the gross violation of fundamental rights and
freedoms has been steadily expanded, increasing the critical mass. The
apotheosis was in the period of organizing and conducting Eurovision
- 2012 international song contest in Azerbaijan.At first glance, it
may seem strange that just on these days, strictly, on May 24, the
European Parliament's resolution on Azerbaijan - "On the Violation
of Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law" - was born. But,
I think this is certain regularity. The fact is that the Azerbaijani
authorities, which have a very solid experience in splurging, intended,
via the Eurovision - 2012, to demonstrate their "Europeanism" to the
world, allowing many journalists to visit Azerbaijan on the eve of the
competition. Alas, they miscalculated, as the opposition also hurried
to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the Eurovision,
attracting the attention to the real situation in Azerbaijan by their
protest actions. The effect, for which the Azerbaijani authorities
expected, was quite the opposite - their imaginary openness turned
against them, because foreign visitors and journalists made out
the real situation on human rights behind the veneer of the Song
Contest in Baku. In other words, they saw not a European country,
but a "Potemkin (read - Aliev's) village" with European tinsel.
Ironically again on May 24, the report of European Initiative for
Stability organization was made â~@~Kâ~@~Kpublic, which, basing
on the facts, showed how official Baku sought positive ratings on
"the level of the democratic processes" in Azerbaijan by bribing
European officials.
Given this type of diplomacy, cynically called Â"caviarÂ" by the
Baku authorities, one could hardly expect for the objectivity and
impartiality of the European institutions. That is why the emergence
of the European Parliament resolution seemed a little strange.
But, let's recall the resolution itself. It criticizes the authorities'
policy, aimed at suppressing the citizens' rights and freedoms,
and calls upon the EU member-states to use targeted sanctions
against those responsible for the violation of human rights in
Azerbaijan. Baku's reaction was quite predictable. On May 29, the
Azerbaijani Milly Mejlis issued a statement addressed to the European
Parliament, condemning its resolution and calling it "unjust and
directed against Azerbaijan". The statement reads, in particular,
that "the success of Azerbaijan causes the concern of certain forces,
which try to strike a blow to the democratic image of the country"
(!!!).It would be strange if official Baku did not see the Armenian
trace in the European Parliament's actions, and therefore the statement
also said that the pro-Armenian forces, opposing the settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, tried to blacken Azerbaijan and called
upon the European Parliament not to be led by Armenia. To be frank,
it is a quite clumsy attempt to move the arrow on Armenia. Although,
for the totalitarian regime of Aliev this is, surely, easier to do
than, in response to objective criticism, to fulfill the commitments
of Azerbaijan assumed when joining the Council of Europe and to take
measures for the real democratization of the country.
It has become customary that for all its troubles Azerbaijan blames
only Armenians and pro-Armenian forces, which is confirmed also by the
reaction of Baku on the resolution of the European Parliament. But,
let's present a very remarkable quotation: "As a result of the
total corruption and regular violation of the rights of its citizens,
Azerbaijan is always included in the list of the non-free countries of
the world". This is an excerpt from an article in the newspaper Mirror
by famous Azerbaijani writer and screenwriter Rustam Ibragimbekov who
cannot belong to pro-Armenian forces, which "try to strike a blow
to the democratic image of the country". It is the country, which,
by the definition of Ibragimbekov himself, has no analogues in the
world on the violation of human rights.
We believe that the current authorities of Azerbaijan have to
understand that the image of the country is stricken, first of all, by
themselves through their anti-democratic actions on both the domestic
and foreign policy arenas, and therefore they should not search for
those guilty on the side. It is obvious that only under the real
democratization of Azerbaijan international structures will be able
to put an end to their fair criticism. Also, it will be possible to
achieve the final settlement of the Karabakh conflict, with which
official Baku is trying to cover up its totalitarian nature.
Leonid MARTIROSSIAN Editor-in-Chief of Azat Artsakh newspaper
http://artsakhtert.com/eng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=707:t he-irony-of-fate-or-the-reverse-effect-of-the-song-contest&catid=3:all&Itemid=4
Monday, 04 June 2012 05:11
Judging by the latest publications in the world press, in which the
criticism of the situation on human rights and freedom of speech in
Azerbaijan is sounded more frequently and sharper, heavy times for this
country are coming. I must say that, in fact, the problem of democratic
freedoms was always available in Azerbaijan, but due to some reasons,
which will be noted below, the corresponding international structures
preferred to turn a blind eye to them.
We can say that the ice was broken when two young Azeri bloggers,
who placed a satirical video at the Internet, in which they ridiculed
the corruption in the government structures, were imprisoned for
one and a half years. Such a harsh reaction of official Baku caused
a flurry of angry criticism by many human rights organizations,
in particular, the well-known Amnesty International. Since then, the
"record" of Azerbaijan on the gross violation of fundamental rights and
freedoms has been steadily expanded, increasing the critical mass. The
apotheosis was in the period of organizing and conducting Eurovision
- 2012 international song contest in Azerbaijan.At first glance, it
may seem strange that just on these days, strictly, on May 24, the
European Parliament's resolution on Azerbaijan - "On the Violation
of Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law" - was born. But,
I think this is certain regularity. The fact is that the Azerbaijani
authorities, which have a very solid experience in splurging, intended,
via the Eurovision - 2012, to demonstrate their "Europeanism" to the
world, allowing many journalists to visit Azerbaijan on the eve of the
competition. Alas, they miscalculated, as the opposition also hurried
to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the Eurovision,
attracting the attention to the real situation in Azerbaijan by their
protest actions. The effect, for which the Azerbaijani authorities
expected, was quite the opposite - their imaginary openness turned
against them, because foreign visitors and journalists made out
the real situation on human rights behind the veneer of the Song
Contest in Baku. In other words, they saw not a European country,
but a "Potemkin (read - Aliev's) village" with European tinsel.
Ironically again on May 24, the report of European Initiative for
Stability organization was made â~@~Kâ~@~Kpublic, which, basing
on the facts, showed how official Baku sought positive ratings on
"the level of the democratic processes" in Azerbaijan by bribing
European officials.
Given this type of diplomacy, cynically called Â"caviarÂ" by the
Baku authorities, one could hardly expect for the objectivity and
impartiality of the European institutions. That is why the emergence
of the European Parliament resolution seemed a little strange.
But, let's recall the resolution itself. It criticizes the authorities'
policy, aimed at suppressing the citizens' rights and freedoms,
and calls upon the EU member-states to use targeted sanctions
against those responsible for the violation of human rights in
Azerbaijan. Baku's reaction was quite predictable. On May 29, the
Azerbaijani Milly Mejlis issued a statement addressed to the European
Parliament, condemning its resolution and calling it "unjust and
directed against Azerbaijan". The statement reads, in particular,
that "the success of Azerbaijan causes the concern of certain forces,
which try to strike a blow to the democratic image of the country"
(!!!).It would be strange if official Baku did not see the Armenian
trace in the European Parliament's actions, and therefore the statement
also said that the pro-Armenian forces, opposing the settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, tried to blacken Azerbaijan and called
upon the European Parliament not to be led by Armenia. To be frank,
it is a quite clumsy attempt to move the arrow on Armenia. Although,
for the totalitarian regime of Aliev this is, surely, easier to do
than, in response to objective criticism, to fulfill the commitments
of Azerbaijan assumed when joining the Council of Europe and to take
measures for the real democratization of the country.
It has become customary that for all its troubles Azerbaijan blames
only Armenians and pro-Armenian forces, which is confirmed also by the
reaction of Baku on the resolution of the European Parliament. But,
let's present a very remarkable quotation: "As a result of the
total corruption and regular violation of the rights of its citizens,
Azerbaijan is always included in the list of the non-free countries of
the world". This is an excerpt from an article in the newspaper Mirror
by famous Azerbaijani writer and screenwriter Rustam Ibragimbekov who
cannot belong to pro-Armenian forces, which "try to strike a blow
to the democratic image of the country". It is the country, which,
by the definition of Ibragimbekov himself, has no analogues in the
world on the violation of human rights.
We believe that the current authorities of Azerbaijan have to
understand that the image of the country is stricken, first of all, by
themselves through their anti-democratic actions on both the domestic
and foreign policy arenas, and therefore they should not search for
those guilty on the side. It is obvious that only under the real
democratization of Azerbaijan international structures will be able
to put an end to their fair criticism. Also, it will be possible to
achieve the final settlement of the Karabakh conflict, with which
official Baku is trying to cover up its totalitarian nature.
Leonid MARTIROSSIAN Editor-in-Chief of Azat Artsakh newspaper