AZERI OPPOSITION UPBEAT ABOUT OBAMA’S VICTORY
Turan news agency
Nov 5 2008
Azerbaijan
Baku, 5 November: Turan news agency has carried a poll among
Azerbaijani politicians on Barack Obama’s election as US president
and on prospects for Azerbaijani-US relations.
The chairman of the [opposition] Democratic Party of Azerbaijan, Sardar
Calaloglu, has said that Obama’s victory is a clear demonstration
of the elimination of racism. At the same time, Calaloglu does not
expect any serious changes in the US foreign policy. He believes that
Democrats will ease the existing tension in the world.
The leader of the opposition Musavat party, Isa Qambar, sees Obama’s
victory as the readiness of American society to be refreshed. With
regards to US-Azerbaijani relations, Baku should inform the
new administration about Azerbaijan’s interests and regional
problems. Qambar recalled that Obama’s intention to recognize the
Armenian genocide and said that Azerbaijan and Turkey should join
their efforts in this issue.
Ali Aliyev, chairman of the [opposition] Citizen and Development Party,
said Obama’s win was a full victory of democracy. On the other hand,
Aliyev said he was concerned about US politics towards Azerbaijan,
noting that the dominance of oil interests in foreign policy is
inappropriate. Washington should support democrats in Azerbaijan.
The chairman of the [opposition] People’s Front of Azerbaijan Party,
Ali Karimli, has described the US election as a demonstration
of a democratic election. He expects serious changes in the US
policies. Karimli thinks that Obama can help the USA restore its
damaged relations with the Muslim world, the EU and Latin America. At
the same time, the USA will actively support democratic values, limit
the influence of oil companies on the politics and its relations with
authoritarian regimes. The possible strengthening of the Armenian
lobby around Obama is an issue of concern, and Karimli said that
Azerbaijan and Turkey should join their efforts in this regard.
[Turan news agency, Baku, in Russian 0839 gmt 5 Nov 08 quoted former
presidential aide and political expert Vafa Quluzada as saying that
Obama’s personality gave people grounds to believe that he would
correct George Bush’s mistakes. Obama will successfully promote US
interests in Africa, Latin America, as well as in the Muslim and Arab
countries, Quluzada said and added that Obama was closer to the Arab
world than white John McCain. Quluzada believes that during Obama’s
rule the US interest in Azerbaijan will significantly grow. Azerbaijan
is a strategically important country and there is a potential for
the development of democracy here, Quluzada said].