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AZAD CALLED ON NATO LEADERS TO PAY ATTENTION TO AZERBAIJAN'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD
CHICAGO. May 21, 2012: Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev is attending
the NATO summit in Chicago. The representative of the Azerbaijani
Americans for Democracy (AZAD) Said Nuri has spread the AZAD statement
among the journalists covering the NATO summit, calling on the leaders
of the NATO countries to raise the issues of the human rights and
democracy with the Azerbaijani leader attending the summit.
Said Nuri told Azerireport that the journalists with whom he had
a conversation on the subject laughed when hearing the name of the
Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev, saying he was the only president
attending the NATO summit who refused to hold a press briefing for
the journalists. Below is the text of the AZAD statement disseminated
among the journalists in Chicago:
"Dear NATO Summit Participants,
President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, will be among the world leaders
participating in NATO summit opening today in Chicago.
Azerbaijani-Americans and other friends of democracy in Azerbaijan
consider NATO an important force in safeguarding the global security
and peace among nations. While we support Azerbaijani people's
aspirations to join the community of free nations and Azerbaijan's
contributions to NATO missions, we also call your attention to the
incompatibility of policies practiced by the ruling Aliyev regime
with the fundamental values shared by NATO member countries and the
organization's basic principles.
Established to ensure the freedom of its member nations, NATO has
played an indispensable role in defending the world against threats
from Soviet totalitarianism and other challenges. Criteria for NATO
Membership Action Plan participation include the commitment to the
rule of law and human rights, and democratic control of armed forces.
However, the current government of Azerbaijan is a repressive and
corrupt dynastical regime with a long record of disregard for the
basic tenets of civilized governance and rule of law, violations of
human rights and breach of the country's international obligations
regarding democracy.
Mr. Aliyev' is implicated in high-level corruption allegations,
documented by investigative media reports about his family's secretive
business and property possessions and theft of public funds. Under his
rule Azerbaijan has been consistently ranked by major international
organizations as one of the worst violators of human rights and basic
freedoms of citizens.
Journalists and dissidents have been murdered, blackmailed, beaten,
tortured and jailed on fabricated charges. The authorities ignore
calls to release political prisoners. Peaceful demonstrators are
brutally attacked by police and government agents in civilian clothes.
There is no independent TV or radio stations operating within
Azerbaijan, and remaining free press faces severe restrictions and
attacks at the hands of the regime. All elections under this regime
have been falsified and the government lacks legitimacy stemming from
free will of its people.
We urge you to take account of these facts and convey to Mr. Ilham
Aliyev that his government has to stop violating the rights and
freedoms of Azerbaijani citizens and start respecting the rule of
law and norms of democratic governance."
(Azerireport).
CHICAGO. May 21, 2012: Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev is attending
the NATO summit in Chicago. The representative of the Azerbaijani
Americans for Democracy (AZAD) Said Nuri has spread the AZAD statement
among the journalists covering the NATO summit, calling on the leaders
of the NATO countries to raise the issues of the human rights and
democracy with the Azerbaijani leader attending the summit.
Said Nuri told Azerireport that the journalists with whom he had
a conversation on the subject laughed when hearing the name of the
Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev, saying he was the only president
attending the NATO summit who refused to hold a press briefing for
the journalists. Below is the text of the AZAD statement disseminated
among the journalists in Chicago:
"Dear NATO Summit Participants,
President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, will be among the world leaders
participating in NATO summit opening today in Chicago.
Azerbaijani-Americans and other friends of democracy in Azerbaijan
consider NATO an important force in safeguarding the global security
and peace among nations. While we support Azerbaijani people's
aspirations to join the community of free nations and Azerbaijan's
contributions to NATO missions, we also call your attention to the
incompatibility of policies practiced by the ruling Aliyev regime
with the fundamental values shared by NATO member countries and the
organization's basic principles.
Established to ensure the freedom of its member nations, NATO has
played an indispensable role in defending the world against threats
from Soviet totalitarianism and other challenges. Criteria for NATO
Membership Action Plan participation include the commitment to the
rule of law and human rights, and democratic control of armed forces.
However, the current government of Azerbaijan is a repressive and
corrupt dynastical regime with a long record of disregard for the
basic tenets of civilized governance and rule of law, violations of
human rights and breach of the country's international obligations
regarding democracy.
Mr. Aliyev' is implicated in high-level corruption allegations,
documented by investigative media reports about his family's secretive
business and property possessions and theft of public funds. Under his
rule Azerbaijan has been consistently ranked by major international
organizations as one of the worst violators of human rights and basic
freedoms of citizens.
Journalists and dissidents have been murdered, blackmailed, beaten,
tortured and jailed on fabricated charges. The authorities ignore
calls to release political prisoners. Peaceful demonstrators are
brutally attacked by police and government agents in civilian clothes.
There is no independent TV or radio stations operating within
Azerbaijan, and remaining free press faces severe restrictions and
attacks at the hands of the regime. All elections under this regime
have been falsified and the government lacks legitimacy stemming from
free will of its people.
We urge you to take account of these facts and convey to Mr. Ilham
Aliyev that his government has to stop violating the rights and
freedoms of Azerbaijani citizens and start respecting the rule of
law and norms of democratic governance."
(Azerireport).