USAN SECRETARY GENERAL: WE SUPPORT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES WHO FAVOR THE SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT WITHIN AZERBAIJAN’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY

Azeri Press Agency
Feb 14 2008
Azerbaijan

Los-Angeles Husniya Hasanova-APA. Yusif Babanli, USAN Secretary
General gave an interview to APA

Yesterday USAN left one month behind. Which achievements do you gain
in this term?

First month of USAN activity was very productive. One of our aims was
to direct US President, congressmen, Senates, governors’ attention to
Azerbaijanis living in US. Azerbaijanis living in US can send letters
to US officials, using system of USAN. About 8,800 letters, faxes and
electronic letters were sent to US officials by now. The letters were
sent to US President, vice-President, governors, State Secretaries,
members of Lower and Upper Houses and mass media. The letters
covers 18th anniversary of 20 January tragedy, Doubling contingent of
Azerbaijani peacekeepers in Afghanistan, Khojali genocide, World Bank’s
statement on economic indicators in Azerbaijan, calling congressmen
to join Work Group on Azerbaijan, Jews’ living with local population
in peace in Azerbaijan, realities of 1988 Sumgait events, negative
reaction of US Azerbaijanis to Democratic candidate Barack Obama’s
report and other important issues. US officials have already stated
their position on these issues. There were various responses from US
officials on Khojali genocide, 20 January tragedy, religious and ethnic
tolerance in Azerbaijan. The project expends gradually and number of
a lot US Azerbaijanis joined this network. Our aim is to in crease
number of letters by 100,000 and number of network members by 5,000.

Can we say that USAN will be virtual movement center of US
Azerbaijanis?

Armenian Diaspora uses above-said system very successfully. Turkish
Diaspora has begun to use this system recently and Turkish Diaspora
had a great influence on US officials by the help of this step. We are
optimistic about the project. Our aim is not to inform US officials
about Azerbaijanis’ position. USAN’s aim is to improve Azerbaijani
community, involve every Azerbaijani who represents our national
interests in this issue. Tomris Azeri, board director of USAN and
the president of Azerbaijan Society of America (ASA), a 50-year old
leading Azerbaijani-American Diaspora organization, Jeyhun Mollazadeh,
head of US-Azerbaijan Entrepreneurs Council, Doctor of Philosophy,
Javid Huseynov, President of the Azerbaijani-American Council and
USAZeris network on Western region, Leyla Mammadova, President of
network on Eastern region, Badir Mammadli, director of organization
on financial affairs, Adil Bagirov, director of network, author of
website on Azerbaijan, as well as author of articles on Azerbaijan’s
history and realities of Nagorno Karabakh admit in Managing Board
of our organization. I believe that, these persons, who informed the
world about realities of Azerbaijan, promoted national interests and
never lost courage will play an important role in expansion of USAN’s
activity and establishment of great Diaspora organization.

USAN Diaspora supported concrete presidential candidates in USA this
year. How did your action help the recognition of Azerbaijanis in
political world of US?

We have aim in the support of Republican candidate for US presidency
John McCain and Democrat Hillary Clinton. It is clear that, it is
early to speak about the influence of US Azerbaijanis on outcomes
of 2008 presidential elections in this stage. Several months are
left for outcomes of primaries of candidates and final elections in
November. It is not accidental that, USAN launched its operation on the
very time. We support presidential candidates who favor the settlement
of Nagorno Karabakh conflict within Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

Which measures will you take to involve US Azerbaijanis in election
process?

We have already begun to involve US Azerbaijanis in election process.

We analyze which candidates will have positive influence on the
development of Azerbaijan-Us relations at present. We will answer the
questions of Azerbaijanis in the events will be organized by USAN,
Azerbaijan Society of America (ASA) and Azerbaijan American Council
(AAC).I want to state that, USAN is a new step in the history of
Azerbaijani Diaspora and it is only the beginning. It will have its
fruits soon.