US envoy urges democratic institutions in Azeri exclave

Turan news agency, Baku
7 Jul 04

Naxcivan, 7 July: The US ambassador to Azerbaijan, Reno Harnish, who
is now visiting Naxcivan [Autonomous Republic], has held a press
conference. “It is high time” to open democratic institutions in
Naxcivan, Turan news agency quotes Harnish as saying. This question
was discussed during his meeting with the chairman of Naxcivan’s
Supreme Council, Vasif Talibov.

Harnish also said that he is aware of the opposition’s hunger strike
in Naxcivan and has discussed this issue with Talibov.

He confirmed that he had said in an interview with the Guardian
newspaper that the Azerbaijani law-enforcement bodies obtain 80 per
cent of confessions through torture. He said that the US State
Department’s annual reports also discuss this issue in detail.

Journalists asked him about the decision of the US Congress to
allocate 5m dollars to Nagornyy Karabakh. Harnish said that this
humanitarian assistance will be spent on refugees. He said that
Azerbaijan will be given 13m dollars for refugees living in camps.

Harnish also spoke about the security of the Caspian basin. He said
that the USA is drafting a new programme to ensure that the Caspian is
secure from weapons of mass destruction.

He also spoke of his meeting with Azerbaijani Minister of Youth,
Sports and Tourism Abulfaz Qarayev. The USA will allocate a grant of
1.5m dollars to develop tourism.

A hospital for the disabled will open in Naxcivan, Harnish said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress