AZERBAIJANI PRESS TAKES MIXED VIEW OF IRANIAN PRESIDENT’S VISIT

BBC Monitoring, in English
22-23 Aug 07

The following is a selection of quotes from articles and commentaries
published in the 22-23 August 2007 editions of Azerbaijani
newspapers, in connection with President Ahmadinezhad’s two-day
visit to the country, which ended on 22 August: Zerkalo (independent
Russian-language daily)

"Neither the USA nor Russia have been favoured with such a ‘loyal’
attitude on the part of official Baku. Recently, official Baku refused
to send a delegation to Washington to discuss security issues due
to a ‘pro-Armenian’ amendment to a US State Department report. Baku
also sent two notes to protest against a map printed by a Russian
publication and a programme on RTR [Rossiya] TV.

"Meanwhile, ‘friendly and fraternal’ Iran, with which we have ‘common
position on all or almost all issues’, almost with official Baku’s
blessing is building a strategic facility – a dam – in Azerbaijan’s
territories occupied by Armenia. This is tantamount to Iran’s open
cooperation with the occupying regime."

(Commentary by Rauf Mirqadirov)

Yeni Musavat (opposition)

"Problems in relations between Azerbaijan and Iran can be solved
at the level of ministers and deputy ministers. It is not a
correct move on the part of the Azerbaijani leadership to invite
Ahmadinezhad, who challenges the world community, to Baku every second
day… Iranians said that they wanted to come and discuss some issues
in Azerbaijan. And Baku immediately agreed out of fear."

(Commentary by leader of opposition Musavat party Isa Qambar)

"In such a delicate situation, if the Iranian president wishes to visit
Azerbaijan and discuss some issues, the Azerbaijani side should take it
into account. I think that the visit was more important to Iran than to
Azerbaijan. As we are neighbours and millions of [ethnic] Azerbaijanis
live in that country, and especially in such a difficult situation,
we should not prevent the Iranian president’s visit to Azerbaijan."

(Commentary by political analyst Eldar Namazov)

Ekspress (independent)

"During his two-day visit, the Iranian leader has not said the word
‘America’ even once. However, many observers forecast that the joint
use of the Qabala radar station by Russia and the USA and problems
that have been existing in Azerbaijani-Iranian relations for years
would be discussed in Ahmadinezhad’s talks with the Azerbaijani
leadership… Some observers say that Iran wants to get Azerbaijan’s
promise that an ‘additional threat’ to Iran will not emerge from
Azerbaijan… Azerbaijan also has certain doubts concerning its
southern neighbour."

(Commentary by Alakbar Raufoglu)

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress