Ukraine events to affect ex-Soviet countries soon – Azeri opposition leader

Yeni Musavat, Baku
28 Dec 04

The leader of Azerbaijan’s major opposition Musavat Party, Isa Qambar,
has said the effects of the Ukrainian events are already noticeable in
post-Soviet countries, including Azerbaijan. Qambar told the
opposition Yeni Musavat newspaper that Viktor Yushchenko’s victory in
Ukraine has boosted the activity of democratic forces in post-Soviet
countries, which worries authoritarian regimes. Qambar added that the
effects of the Ukrainian elections will grow day by day and yield
positive results. The following is an excerpt from Konul Samilqizi’s
report by Azerbaijani newspaper Yeni Musavat on 28 December headlined
“The Ukrainian events are already yielding results” and subheaded “Isa
Qambar: ‘This process is going on slowly in Azerbaijan, but one can
already notice it'”. Subheadings have been inserted editorially:

The Ukrainian democrats have won the re-run of the second round of the
presidential elections. As a matter of fact, it would be more correct
to view this as a confirmation of the 31 October and 21 November
victories, which an attempt was made to steal, rather than a new
victory. Because Viktor Yushchenko, leader of the Our Ukraine election
bloc, had clearly won both the first round and the first run of the
second round. But it took him up to two months to confirm his victory,
which became possible after a serious struggle.

The Azerbaijani democrats were among those delighted by this
victory. And the Our Azerbaijan bloc was double happy, because it was
the Our Ukraine bloc, an ally of the Our Azerbaijan bloc, and Viktor
Yushchenko who won the elections. We asked Isa Qambar, leader of the
Our Azerbaijan bloc and Musavat Party, to comment on this important
event.

“Two months not a waste of time”

[Correspondent] It would not be that right to assess the results of
the 26 December re-run of the second round of the elections as a
victory. Because your ally had won the elections far before that. So
we think that this is more a confirmation of the victory rather than a
new victory. How would you comment on this?

[Qambar] You are absolutely right. In fact, Yushchenko was elected
president on 31 October. This victory was confirmed during the
following two months. But these two months cannot be viewed as a waste
of time. On the contrary, it was a very important period. First,
Yushchenko became Ukrainian leader – a more trusted person than a
merely elected president. This trust will enable him to solve
Ukraine’s problems, make strong decisions about the country’s
development and carry out the necessary reforms.

Second, the Ukrainian people proved in these two months that they are
able to meet the requirements of the 21st century and that they can
have their own place in the modern world. And this will help Ukraine
integrate into the European Union and NATO. In principle, these two
months proved once again that even the most ruthless authoritarian
police regimes can turn into a democracy peacefully and one can come
to power in those countries by free and fair elections. On the one
hand, people have to be resolute and selfless to achieve this. On the
other, the international community has to take a fundamental position
and demonstrate loyalty to its own values and ideas. And this was the
case. From this point of view, these two months should be valued
highly.

[Correspondent] This process was particularly important for you, as
the Ukrainian democrats – your allies – emerged victorious. How do you
feel about it?

[Qambar] Of course, the success of people we know, our friends and
very honourable people, cannot but delight us. For us, it is good news
that the leader of the Our Ukraine bloc, which is an ally of the Our
Azerbaijan bloc, came to power in an important country like Ukraine. I
believe that this will help further improve relations between the
democratic forces of Ukraine and Azerbaijan, as well as relations
between Azerbaijan and Ukraine, which are strategic partners.

[Correspondent] How are the democrats, who are in power in Ukraine now
and in opposition in Azerbaijan, going to establish relations? What is
the aim of the agreement signed between the Our Ukraine and Our
Azerbaijan blocs? How will this document work at this moment?

[Qambar] I see no need to fuss about this issue. Of course, we will
continue our meetings and talks. We will also discuss how to continue
our cooperation under these circumstances. But relations between our
peoples and states are more important for us. We think that relations
between these peoples and states should develop no matter who is in
power in Ukraine and Azerbaijan.

Effects already noticeable

[Correspondent] As the Ukrainian democrats have confirmed their
victory, I will put this question explicitly: What specific effects
can the victory of democracy in Ukraine have on post-Soviet countries,
including Azerbaijan?

[Qambar] Time will show what kind of direct effects these processes
will have. But in general, they proved once again that passage to
democracy is theoretically possible at this stage.

Second, the plan of some circles in Moscow to establish an alliance
with the surrounding countries based on authoritarian rule has
failed. Ukraine was the most important part of this plan. One can
unequivocally regard this plan as a fiasco since it failed in
Ukraine. And this will have positive effects. The Ukrainian events
have started affecting Azerbaijan and all post-Soviet countries. The
fact that democratic forces have become more resourceful, anxiety
within the authoritarian regimes and the fact that the peoples of
these countries have begun looking at the issue through a different
prism are the results of this direct impact. This impact will grow day
by day and yield results.

[Correspondent] Is the Ukrainian process the only factor that
supplements the resolve of the democratic forces in Azerbaijan and
other post-Soviet countries or are there any specific reports about
this? The talk is about the West’s fundamental decision to turn
Azerbaijan into a democracy. There have been reports that the USA has
decided to turn Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus and Moldova into
democracies.

[Qambar] One should consider the events in a broader context. It would
not be right to take the events out of context. And the Ukrainian
events are a very important reflection of this broader context.

First, Azerbaijani society is gradually recovering from the damage
inflicted by the rigged 2003 presidential elections and repression
against the people. Society is trying to look to the future with hope
again. Positive trends are obvious. Although this process is going on
slowly, one can already notice it. The most difficult year is
over. On the other hand, international processes and the fact that the
international community has begun reconsidering these issues are also
obvious.

I believe that the failure of the Ilham Aliyev project on the one
hand, his failure to conduct reforms in Azerbaijan over the past year,
and on the other, the fact that it has been proved that democratic
changes are possible when the international community is united have
led to changes in the approach of the international community to these
issues. And this is quite obvious. All these factors affect these
issues and will also continue to affect them in the future.

[Passage omitted: Qambar says the main tasks facing Azerbaijan’s
democratic forces will be making changes to the election code,
changing the principles of forming election commissions and helping
boost the people’s trust in democracy]