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APA, Azerbaijan
July 8 2013
Moldovan ombudsman dismisses Armenia's claims of bribery by Azerbaijan
Moldovan Ombudswoman Aurelia Grigoriu has dismissed as "cheap tactics"
Armenian media reports that she had been "bribed" to present the
Azerbaijani version of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict during her
recent speech at the Armenian parliament. In her report entitled "the
protection of human rights and security in frozen conflicts areas"
Grigoriu said that "Armenia occupied territories of Azerbaijan and
committed an act of genocide against Azerbaijanis." The ombudswoman
said that her comments on the conflict were fact and also complained
of receiving threats in Armenia after the speech. The following is the
text of her interview with private Azerbaijani news agency APA on 8
July:
[Correspondent] Were you able to leave Armenia easily following your
well-known speech in that country?
[Aurelia Grigoriu] They demanded that I apologize in order to be able
to leave Armenia without any obstacles. Diplomats and other people
that I was constantly in contact with, phoned me and said that I
should apologize. Surely, those were pro-Armenian people.
[Correspondent] What was your reaction to these requests?
[Aurelia Grigoriu] I was not seeking to humiliate or insult anyone. I
said the truth and I disseminated information approved by
international organizations, in my speech. I do not think that I
should apologize to someone for this.
[Correspondent] Did you face threats in Armenia?
[Aurelia Grigoriu] I received threats on my Facebook account. They
rang me in my hotel room and threatened me on the phone saying they
would drag me out of the room by pulling my hair, and then they would
sort it out with me. I informed our Foreign Ministry and my relatives
about this. My family has also received threats. The driver did not
want to take me from the hotel and a minute later I received a message
on my Facebook account saying that surprises are waiting me. I think
these were related to each other. This was the host country's attitude
towards me.
[Correspondent] The Armenian media reported that you had been bribed
by Azerbaijan and had fulfilled an order.
[Aurelia Grigoriu] I visit many countries where I deliver speeches. As
an ombudsman, I attend an international conference in Azerbaijan once
a year but it does not provide any grounds to say that I have been
bribed. This is a lie and cheap tactics employed by Armenia.
[Correspondent] Do you feel safe now?
[Aurelia Grigoriu] Surely, I feel safe now. However, two people
followed me from Armenia. I flew to Moscow where I stayed one night
and then left for Chisinau. They took the same route as I did. I do
not know what their purpose was. Perhaps, they were guards but those
two people were always in a close distance from me.
[Translated from Azeri]
July 8 2013
Moldovan ombudsman dismisses Armenia's claims of bribery by Azerbaijan
Moldovan Ombudswoman Aurelia Grigoriu has dismissed as "cheap tactics"
Armenian media reports that she had been "bribed" to present the
Azerbaijani version of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict during her
recent speech at the Armenian parliament. In her report entitled "the
protection of human rights and security in frozen conflicts areas"
Grigoriu said that "Armenia occupied territories of Azerbaijan and
committed an act of genocide against Azerbaijanis." The ombudswoman
said that her comments on the conflict were fact and also complained
of receiving threats in Armenia after the speech. The following is the
text of her interview with private Azerbaijani news agency APA on 8
July:
[Correspondent] Were you able to leave Armenia easily following your
well-known speech in that country?
[Aurelia Grigoriu] They demanded that I apologize in order to be able
to leave Armenia without any obstacles. Diplomats and other people
that I was constantly in contact with, phoned me and said that I
should apologize. Surely, those were pro-Armenian people.
[Correspondent] What was your reaction to these requests?
[Aurelia Grigoriu] I was not seeking to humiliate or insult anyone. I
said the truth and I disseminated information approved by
international organizations, in my speech. I do not think that I
should apologize to someone for this.
[Correspondent] Did you face threats in Armenia?
[Aurelia Grigoriu] I received threats on my Facebook account. They
rang me in my hotel room and threatened me on the phone saying they
would drag me out of the room by pulling my hair, and then they would
sort it out with me. I informed our Foreign Ministry and my relatives
about this. My family has also received threats. The driver did not
want to take me from the hotel and a minute later I received a message
on my Facebook account saying that surprises are waiting me. I think
these were related to each other. This was the host country's attitude
towards me.
[Correspondent] The Armenian media reported that you had been bribed
by Azerbaijan and had fulfilled an order.
[Aurelia Grigoriu] I visit many countries where I deliver speeches. As
an ombudsman, I attend an international conference in Azerbaijan once
a year but it does not provide any grounds to say that I have been
bribed. This is a lie and cheap tactics employed by Armenia.
[Correspondent] Do you feel safe now?
[Aurelia Grigoriu] Surely, I feel safe now. However, two people
followed me from Armenia. I flew to Moscow where I stayed one night
and then left for Chisinau. They took the same route as I did. I do
not know what their purpose was. Perhaps, they were guards but those
two people were always in a close distance from me.
[Translated from Azeri]