ILGAR MAMEDOV: "BARAK OBAMA’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS AZERBAIJAN WILL MOSTLY DEPEND ON WHAT THE ARMENIAN DIASPORA WILL TELL HIM"

Today.Az
ics/48751.html
Nov 4 2008
Azerbaijan

"It is now impossible to say unambiguously that Barak Obama will be
the next US President", said Azerbaijani famous political scientist
Ilgar Mamedov, speaking on the upcoming presidential election in the
United States.

However, according to him, for the leading countries of Europe Obama
would be the best choice, as his election would mean the rejection
of the Bush’s policy and elimination of all new conflicts that the
administration of the working president caused but was not able
to settle.

As for the possible recognition of the "Armenian genocide" by the
next US President, Mamedov said McCain does not intend to do such a
nonsense, while Obama may take this step, depending on the situation,
considering that the United States will be able to further restore
its reputation in Turkey and Azerbaijan. But along with being unfair,
he said, this decision will strongly affect the US reputation in both
of the countries.

Regarding the US overall policy towards Azerbaijan in case McCain
or Obama come to power, the political scientist said McCain will
undoubtedly make the democratic agenda for our country urgent.

"In 2003 I had an honor of telling him about the state of affairs
in our country during his visit to Baku. By results of that visit he
made an objective criticism of the US policy in the issues of support
of democracy here. As for Obama, I am not sure that he is for the
democratic reforms in our country. His attitude towards Azerbaijan
will mostly depend on what Armenian diaspora will tell him.

The position of both candidates on the Karabakh issue remains unclear
and will probably be defined not by them but my the army of advisers
and analysts which raises optimism for the interests of the United
States and Azerbaijan coincide in confrontation to the Russian policy
in the South Caucasus.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress