TV poll shows Azeris against Armenian officers’ presence in NATO conference

ANS TV, Baku
9 Jun 04

[Presenter] Armenian officers’ visit to Baku [to attend NATO exercises]
does not cause any problems on the state level. However, this is
not the case among the public. Our correspondent has come to this
conclusion after conducting an opinion poll among Baku residents.

[Correspondent, over video of central Baku] Armenian officers’ visit
to Baku is an insult to the spirit of thousands of our martyrs and
our national values. This is the position of the Union of National
Democratic Forces [UNDF] on Armenian officers’ intention to attend
a conference due in Baku within the framework of NATO’s Partnership
for Peace programme.

Today’s sitting of the UNDF discussed attempts of the Armenians to
come to Baku. They decided that this was inadmissible. According
to Elcin Mirzabayli, secretary of the United People’s Front Party,
which is a member of the UNDF, Armenian officers will not be allowed
to arrive in Baku until Azerbaijani lands are freed from occupation.

[Mirzabayli, in his office] Using all the rights granted by the
constitution, the UNDF will try to prevent this and will use all
possible means not to allow Armenian officers to visit Baku. We
think that our actions will be quite harsh. We think that it is very
difficult to curb emotions of Karabakh war veterans and refugees from
the occupied districts who are members of our party. It is difficult
for me to predict what these actions will cost the Armenians.

[Correspondent] Elcin Mirzabayli went on to say that leaders of
the UNDF member parties had instructed their party members to foil
the Armenians’ expected visit. Our party members will be posted at
different places of the city and will prevent the visit, end of quote.

An opinion poll that we have held among Baku residents has enabled
us to approximately clarify the position of ordinary people on the
issue. Almost all the city residents we polled said the same.

[Unidentified man in the street, captioned as a Baku resident] My
mother, sister and relatives are in Armenian captivity. They have
played thousand tricks on us and are mocking us.

[Second man] It is difficult to say if their visit to Baku is good
or bad. But I do not regard it as necessary at this stage.

[A woman] This is very bad. No, they should not be allowed to
come. No-one has the right to allow the enemy into our country. My
son was martyred. I will never accept this. I do not want this and
I do not support this.

[Third man] What does the word officer mean? An officer is an armed
person who kills another person, is he not? How can we then allow
them into the republic?

[Passage omitted: others repeat similar ideas]

[Correspondent, over video of Mammadov] MP Elman Mammadov [former
executive head of occupied Xocali District] also protested against
the Armenians’ visit to Baku. According to him, the mass media and
public figures foiled the previous attempts of enemy officers to visit
Baku. The MP thinks that the same should be done this time as well.

[Mammadov] I cannot understand how some people, people who describe
themselves as Azerbaijanis, can accept the fact that Armenians,
who have occupied over 20 per cent of our territories, made over a
million of our compatriots abandon their lands and shed the blood
of tens of thousands of Azerbaijanis, will arrive in Azerbaijan,
Baku. Do you know how they will come to Baku, Azerbaijan? They will
come to the capital of the country they have occupied as victors.
They will rejoice at this fact and will tell criminals like them
back home that they have been to the capital of the country whose
territory they occupied and enjoyed themselves.

[Correspondent] Thirteen days are left until the start of the
conference which Armenian officers want to attend.

Mahir Mammadli, Sehrac Azadoglu, ANS.