AZG Armenian Daily #096, 27/05/2005
Region
ILHAM ALIYEV TARGET OF AMERICAN MASS MEDIA
RA President Doesn’t Feel Threat from Revolutionary Color
When in the spring of 2003 the first revolutionary slogans sounded in
Tbilisi, few people believed that the times of Shevardnadze will come to an
end soon. In the days of the Ukrainian events, the decline of the Kuchma
clan was more probable for many people. Few months later, when the
revolutionary wave moved to Kyrgyzstan, few people suspected that Akaev can
preserve the power.
In fact, the “colorful revolutions” in the area of the CIS have become a
inescapable process. Usually, before the revolutions begin, the western
press begins discussing the anti-democratic of this or that president.
Today, Ilham Aliyev and Azerbaijan have become the target for the western
press.
Regnum agency informed that the American Stratfor analytical center
continues publications on the inner political situation of Azerbaijan.
“In Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan, after the collapse of the Soviet Union,
Ilham Aliyev, Azeri President, is in the center of attention on the
background of the elections envisaged in November, 2005. Recently, he
received instructions from Washington about his further actions to preserve
the power. Aliyev seems to follow them, just like Voronin, president of
Moldova, did,” Stratfor” writes.
According to “Stratfor,” Rino Harnish, U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan,
represented the spheres where Washington want s to see progress. Harnish
announced that the U.S. expects decisive steps from Azerbaijan in
development of democracy and for economic reforms, as well as for the
peaceful settlement of Nagorno Karabakh and for other issues. Harnish called
for the authorities and the opposition to unfold a dialogue and sign a
united memorandum for free, just and transparent parliamentary elections.
Though Aliyev’s clan said that Harnish interferes with the home affairs of
Azerbaijan and number of deputies condemned the American Ambassador, Ilham
Aliyev signed a decree on holding peaceful rallies on May 11. At the same
time, the authorities applied force and broke up the opposition rally on May
21.
“Aliyev should see that the factors in Azerbaijan are very alike those that
deprived Akaev of his power. The Azeri government is a mixture of the
Aleve’s clan and criminal elements. The population of this country lives in
poverty,” “Stratfor” writes, adding that Washington doesn’t want any chaos
in Baku.
“Washington suggested Aliyev to make a choice between preserving the power
and being politically controlled or being seized. Aliyev seems to have
chosen the first variant. Washington feels another issue. The Azeri
opposition is not unanimous, there is no political figure or a party that
could expect the support of the U.S. in seizing the power. The U.S. is more
interested in letting Aliyev govern, and, most likely, as soon as Washington
is satisfied with the effective work of Baku-Cehyan, it will try to remove
Aliyev,” Stratfor stated.
Recently, the American high ranked state and political figures speak more of
the power shift in Azerbaijan. Last week, George Bush and Condoleezza Rice
stated in public that they are admired with “democratic revolutions.”
There are no publications on a possible revolution in Armenia yet. This is
first of all caused by the fact that the next elections in our country will
take place in 2007 only. The Armenian opposition can only count on the
statement of the American officials concerning “spreading democracy.” On one
hand, our opposition doesn’t like the activities of John Evans, U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia, who doesn’t give public instructions to Robert
Kocharian.
Certainly, we shouldn’t exclude that one day “the colorful revolutionary
wave ” can reach Armenia.
By Tatoul Hakobian