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ALI KERIMLI: ILHAM ALIYEV PUBLICLY SHOWED INTOLERANCE TO CRITICISM
Turan Information Agency, Azerbaijan
June 25, 2014 Wednesday
Baku/25.06.14/Turan: "Speech by Ilham Aliyev at the PACE session
expresses only regret, because the President has demonstrated the
European audience his intolerance of criticism," said PFPA leader
Ali Kerimli in an interview with "ObektivTV."
"The fact that corruption prospers in Azerbaijan, that there are 130
political prisoners, and elections are rigged is known worldwide. But
when Ilham Aliyev was asked questions about these topics, he lost
his temper.
Over 10 years in power, he has never participated in any political
controversy. He only acted monologues, never had dialogue, never
responded to questions from reporters, and did not had a roundtable
with the opposition.
Therefore, Aliyev, who had never heard criticism, heard the bitter
truth, lost his temper, behaved aggressively, demonstrating his level
and attitude to criticism," continued Kerimli.
PACE members realized that if this man so sharply reacts to criticism
of European parliamentarians, how he behaves with his opponents in
his own country?
"Aliyev's statements on ensuring the country's freedom of speech and
assembly, the absence of political prisoners is an outright lie,"
said Kerimli. Kerimli reminded the final conclusion of the monitoring
mission of the OSCE ODIHR of 340 observers from 41 countries to
participate in the presidential election in 2013. Observers from the
OSCE ODIHR stated that on 58% precincts vote count was on the poor
or very poor levels.
With regard to Aliyev's statements that there are not arrested
journalists in the country, Kerimli said that media representatives
have always been in custody in Azerbaijan, and nothing has changed
today. "Independent media's number can now be counted on one hand.
If there is freedom of speech in the country, then why broadcast on
FM radio frequencies is banned for "Freedom", "Voice of America"
and the BBC radio stations? Why does the leading newspaper of the
country, "Azadlig", barely survive? This newspaper is the only printed
edition in Azerbaijan that criticizes President Ilham Aliyev and top
authorities close to him. The government is doing everything to close
the newspaper," said Kerimli.
Referring to the situation of the political opposition, Kerimli
reminded that over the period of Aliyevs' sty I office, PPFA was seven
times deprived of their office. Kerimli himself has been deprived of
his foreign passport for eight years.
PPFA cannot hold meetings and events, and meeting with party members.
Police invades meetings in private homes of the party activists.
"After all this, to state that provided political rights and freedoms
have been provided in Azerbaijan, is a frank lie before the world
community," said Kerimli. Asking the question what is the way out
Kerimli said that international organizations should continue criticism
without yielding to blackmail of the Azerbaijani government."
Baku uses energy factor, demanding from the West to close eyes on the
human rights violations. However, in reality, oil and gas cooperation
is necessary more for Azerbaijan, and the West should not succumb
to pressure.
The second factor is a threat of getting closer to Russia, if the West
will not tolerate the policy of the Azerbaijani authorities. However,
Azerbaijan is strongly tied economically to the West, and the Russian
Federation, Kazakhstan and Belarus have only 4% of Azerbaijan's
exports and 18% of imports. Finally, there is the Karabakh conflict,
which cannot be solved without the Wes, and under the patronage of
Russia the problem cannot find its objective settlement. Therefore,
international organizations should not be afraid of tough rhetoric
of the Azerbaijani authorities and retreat.
Certainly, the accession democracy is the affair of the Azerbaijani
people, but the international community must be principled to
call white-white, black - black, and demand from the authorities
the fulfillment of their international organizations, including 59
European Convention, said Kerimli.-03B06-
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Turan Information Agency, Azerbaijan
June 25, 2014 Wednesday
Baku/25.06.14/Turan: "Speech by Ilham Aliyev at the PACE session
expresses only regret, because the President has demonstrated the
European audience his intolerance of criticism," said PFPA leader
Ali Kerimli in an interview with "ObektivTV."
"The fact that corruption prospers in Azerbaijan, that there are 130
political prisoners, and elections are rigged is known worldwide. But
when Ilham Aliyev was asked questions about these topics, he lost
his temper.
Over 10 years in power, he has never participated in any political
controversy. He only acted monologues, never had dialogue, never
responded to questions from reporters, and did not had a roundtable
with the opposition.
Therefore, Aliyev, who had never heard criticism, heard the bitter
truth, lost his temper, behaved aggressively, demonstrating his level
and attitude to criticism," continued Kerimli.
PACE members realized that if this man so sharply reacts to criticism
of European parliamentarians, how he behaves with his opponents in
his own country?
"Aliyev's statements on ensuring the country's freedom of speech and
assembly, the absence of political prisoners is an outright lie,"
said Kerimli. Kerimli reminded the final conclusion of the monitoring
mission of the OSCE ODIHR of 340 observers from 41 countries to
participate in the presidential election in 2013. Observers from the
OSCE ODIHR stated that on 58% precincts vote count was on the poor
or very poor levels.
With regard to Aliyev's statements that there are not arrested
journalists in the country, Kerimli said that media representatives
have always been in custody in Azerbaijan, and nothing has changed
today. "Independent media's number can now be counted on one hand.
If there is freedom of speech in the country, then why broadcast on
FM radio frequencies is banned for "Freedom", "Voice of America"
and the BBC radio stations? Why does the leading newspaper of the
country, "Azadlig", barely survive? This newspaper is the only printed
edition in Azerbaijan that criticizes President Ilham Aliyev and top
authorities close to him. The government is doing everything to close
the newspaper," said Kerimli.
Referring to the situation of the political opposition, Kerimli
reminded that over the period of Aliyevs' sty I office, PPFA was seven
times deprived of their office. Kerimli himself has been deprived of
his foreign passport for eight years.
PPFA cannot hold meetings and events, and meeting with party members.
Police invades meetings in private homes of the party activists.
"After all this, to state that provided political rights and freedoms
have been provided in Azerbaijan, is a frank lie before the world
community," said Kerimli. Asking the question what is the way out
Kerimli said that international organizations should continue criticism
without yielding to blackmail of the Azerbaijani government."
Baku uses energy factor, demanding from the West to close eyes on the
human rights violations. However, in reality, oil and gas cooperation
is necessary more for Azerbaijan, and the West should not succumb
to pressure.
The second factor is a threat of getting closer to Russia, if the West
will not tolerate the policy of the Azerbaijani authorities. However,
Azerbaijan is strongly tied economically to the West, and the Russian
Federation, Kazakhstan and Belarus have only 4% of Azerbaijan's
exports and 18% of imports. Finally, there is the Karabakh conflict,
which cannot be solved without the Wes, and under the patronage of
Russia the problem cannot find its objective settlement. Therefore,
international organizations should not be afraid of tough rhetoric
of the Azerbaijani authorities and retreat.
Certainly, the accession democracy is the affair of the Azerbaijani
people, but the international community must be principled to
call white-white, black - black, and demand from the authorities
the fulfillment of their international organizations, including 59
European Convention, said Kerimli.-03B06-
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress