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CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SHEDS LIGHT ON AZERI ABUSES
http://asbarez.com/111724/congressional-hearing-sheds-light-on-azeri-abuses/
Thursday, July 18th, 2013
U.S. Commission on Security and Co-operation in Europe (Helsinki Commission)
BY ROUBEN KRIKOURIAN
WASHINGTON-Representatives of the Azerbaijani government on Tuesday
defended their country's human rights record against criticisms
from U.S. officials and Azeri opposition party members at a hearing
organized by the congressional Commission on Security and Co-operation
in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission).
The hearing was attended by Armenian National Committee of America
2013 Leo Sarkisian intern Knarik Gasparyan.
In the hearings, senior U.S. officials and members of Azerbaijani
opposition parties condemned the Azerbaijani government's undemocratic
policies and steady advancement toward increased authoritarianism
and expressed concern about the country's upcoming elections.
Senior State Department Advisor Dr. Paul M. Carter, addressing the
human rights record of Azerbaijan, opened his statements by saying
that the day's hearing was not about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
but about Azerbaijan's human rights record.
Carter named intimidation, arrest and persecution of journalists and
peaceful political activists and legal restrictions on assembly, the
Internet, demonstrations and media as some of the most disconcerting
policies of the Azerbaijani government. He also emphasized U.S.
distress at the shutting down of the Free Thought University, which
was initially sponsored by the U.S. government.
Noting that Azerbaijan's previous elections did not meet OSCE
standards, Carter said, "We want a greater respect for human rights
and democratic values."
Largely echoing the concerns expressed by Carter, State Department
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Thomas
Melia explained that data suggests Azerbaijan does not respect human
rights, citing numerous cases of detentions of peaceful activists
and political dissidents.
Azerbaijani Ambassador to the United States Elin Suleymanov defied
the criticisms against his government, reminding the U.S. officials
that Azerbaijan is a strategic partner in energy and security.
Citing statements delivered to Congress by the Armenian-American lobby,
Suleymanov complained that Armenians shouldn't speak on Azerbaijan's
democratic status and pointed a finger at the assassination of a
presidential candidate in Armenia's most recent election.
Following in Suleymanov's steps, Samad Seyidov, Head of the Azerbaijani
Parliament's International and Inter-Parliamentary Relations Committee,
ranted that "the real problem is our neighbor, the real troubled
partner is Armenia, where human rights are endangered."
"If we are talking about Human Rights violations, we should talk about
Nagorno-Karabakh," Seyidov added, saying that he sees his government
not as authoritarian but as an increasingly important participant in
the region.
Carter earlier specified, "We are not here to discuss Nagorno-Karabakh,
but the decline of democratic values in Azerbaijan."
Eldar Namazov, the leader of the National Council of Democratic
Forces of Azerbaijan opposition party, disputed the government
representatives' dismissals of criticisms, noting that two members of
his party were arrested just a day before, while preparing documents
for the very hearing at which he was present.
No explanation was given by the Azerbaijani government representatives
as to how Armenia's quantifiably better human rights record and role
in the Karabakh conflict had any bearing on Azerbaijan's failure to
provide basic human rights and free elections to its citizens.
Neither was there an explanation provided for the mistreatment of
the Azerbaijani author Akram Aylisli, who, along with his family,
faced enormous abuse earlier this year after writing a novel, titled
Stone Dreams, which spoke sympathetically of Armenians.
http://asbarez.com/111724/congressional-hearing-sheds-light-on-azeri-abuses/
Thursday, July 18th, 2013
U.S. Commission on Security and Co-operation in Europe (Helsinki Commission)
BY ROUBEN KRIKOURIAN
WASHINGTON-Representatives of the Azerbaijani government on Tuesday
defended their country's human rights record against criticisms
from U.S. officials and Azeri opposition party members at a hearing
organized by the congressional Commission on Security and Co-operation
in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission).
The hearing was attended by Armenian National Committee of America
2013 Leo Sarkisian intern Knarik Gasparyan.
In the hearings, senior U.S. officials and members of Azerbaijani
opposition parties condemned the Azerbaijani government's undemocratic
policies and steady advancement toward increased authoritarianism
and expressed concern about the country's upcoming elections.
Senior State Department Advisor Dr. Paul M. Carter, addressing the
human rights record of Azerbaijan, opened his statements by saying
that the day's hearing was not about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
but about Azerbaijan's human rights record.
Carter named intimidation, arrest and persecution of journalists and
peaceful political activists and legal restrictions on assembly, the
Internet, demonstrations and media as some of the most disconcerting
policies of the Azerbaijani government. He also emphasized U.S.
distress at the shutting down of the Free Thought University, which
was initially sponsored by the U.S. government.
Noting that Azerbaijan's previous elections did not meet OSCE
standards, Carter said, "We want a greater respect for human rights
and democratic values."
Largely echoing the concerns expressed by Carter, State Department
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Thomas
Melia explained that data suggests Azerbaijan does not respect human
rights, citing numerous cases of detentions of peaceful activists
and political dissidents.
Azerbaijani Ambassador to the United States Elin Suleymanov defied
the criticisms against his government, reminding the U.S. officials
that Azerbaijan is a strategic partner in energy and security.
Citing statements delivered to Congress by the Armenian-American lobby,
Suleymanov complained that Armenians shouldn't speak on Azerbaijan's
democratic status and pointed a finger at the assassination of a
presidential candidate in Armenia's most recent election.
Following in Suleymanov's steps, Samad Seyidov, Head of the Azerbaijani
Parliament's International and Inter-Parliamentary Relations Committee,
ranted that "the real problem is our neighbor, the real troubled
partner is Armenia, where human rights are endangered."
"If we are talking about Human Rights violations, we should talk about
Nagorno-Karabakh," Seyidov added, saying that he sees his government
not as authoritarian but as an increasingly important participant in
the region.
Carter earlier specified, "We are not here to discuss Nagorno-Karabakh,
but the decline of democratic values in Azerbaijan."
Eldar Namazov, the leader of the National Council of Democratic
Forces of Azerbaijan opposition party, disputed the government
representatives' dismissals of criticisms, noting that two members of
his party were arrested just a day before, while preparing documents
for the very hearing at which he was present.
No explanation was given by the Azerbaijani government representatives
as to how Armenia's quantifiably better human rights record and role
in the Karabakh conflict had any bearing on Azerbaijan's failure to
provide basic human rights and free elections to its citizens.
Neither was there an explanation provided for the mistreatment of
the Azerbaijani author Akram Aylisli, who, along with his family,
faced enormous abuse earlier this year after writing a novel, titled
Stone Dreams, which spoke sympathetically of Armenians.