Zardusht Alizadeh. "America is actually powerless to Azerbaijan's actions."
August 16 2014
On August 2, during the peace festival held in participation of
Armenian and Azeri youth in Tekali village, Georgia, we had an
interview with political scientist Zardusht Alizadeh. We told him that
recently many civil society representatives have been detained in
Azerbaijan, which caused a strong criticism to the Azerbaijani
authorities by the United States. Is this criticism formal, or the US
actually does not have opportunities to influence on Azerbaijan?
Alizadeh said, "The United States is truly criticizing. But let's be
realistic, what opportunities does the United States have to influence
on Azerbaijan? It did not bring in troops, I hope no one believes it,
as for the financial leverage, Azerbaijan is financially a
self-sufficient country, even it has more than 50 billion dollars
surplus and it has no need for finances and loans. As to the moral
aspects, they are of less importance to the Azerbaijani leadership.
Therefore, America is actually powerless to Azerbaijan's actions, and
has no leverage except for moral calls. The Azerbaijani authorities,
yes, exert pressure, and make the civil society representatives be
silent. For what purpose? Their main objective is to hold the European
games, so that no one would interfere with them in conducting these
costly measures, which will enable them to be reach and then,
possibly, God grant, will conduct the Olympic Games and will put 50
billion into their pockets."
Voskan SARGSYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2014/08/16/166528/
August 16 2014
On August 2, during the peace festival held in participation of
Armenian and Azeri youth in Tekali village, Georgia, we had an
interview with political scientist Zardusht Alizadeh. We told him that
recently many civil society representatives have been detained in
Azerbaijan, which caused a strong criticism to the Azerbaijani
authorities by the United States. Is this criticism formal, or the US
actually does not have opportunities to influence on Azerbaijan?
Alizadeh said, "The United States is truly criticizing. But let's be
realistic, what opportunities does the United States have to influence
on Azerbaijan? It did not bring in troops, I hope no one believes it,
as for the financial leverage, Azerbaijan is financially a
self-sufficient country, even it has more than 50 billion dollars
surplus and it has no need for finances and loans. As to the moral
aspects, they are of less importance to the Azerbaijani leadership.
Therefore, America is actually powerless to Azerbaijan's actions, and
has no leverage except for moral calls. The Azerbaijani authorities,
yes, exert pressure, and make the civil society representatives be
silent. For what purpose? Their main objective is to hold the European
games, so that no one would interfere with them in conducting these
costly measures, which will enable them to be reach and then,
possibly, God grant, will conduct the Olympic Games and will put 50
billion into their pockets."
Voskan SARGSYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2014/08/16/166528/