HEAD OF AZERBAIJANI DIASPORA ORGAIZATION IN SWEDEN: LOCAL ARMENIANS THREATEN AZERBAIJANI DIASPORA
H. Hamidov
Today
/58337.html
Dec 18 2009
Azerbaijan
Day.Az interview with Abdullah Amir Hashimi, head of Azerbaijani
diaspora organization "Karabakh" in Stockholm, Sweden.
Day.Az: How many Azerbaijanis live in Sweden today?
Abdullah Amir Hashimi: It is hard to say exact number of Azerbaijanis
living in Sweden. Some time ago it was proposed to launch a project
in this regard, but it was not realized for certain reasons. It
is difficult to find out exact number of Azerbaijan because all
Azerbaijanis who have migrated from Iran are registered as Iranian
citizens and their national identity is not indicated.
Number of migrants from Iran total 100,000 with 35,000-40,000 being
Azerbaijanis. The number of migrants from Azerbaijan is about 1,000.
They have migrated for the last 7 to 8 years.
Are Azerbaijanis in Sweden active?
Azerbaijanis have 37 organizations in Sweden with 19 of them being
member of Federation of Azerbaijanis in Sweden. We do out best to
develop the Diaspora and unite Azerbaijanis in Sweden.
We jointly organize certain events. For example, we combine our efforts
when we mark a historical date of our state and also to convey the
whole truth about them to the Swedish population.
I am confident that we need to develop a unified strategy.
How many Armenians live in Sweden?
About 7,000-8,000. The Federation of Armenians in Sweden includes 14
diaspora organizations. Armenian church is especially active. Majority
of Armenians live in Stockholm, Västerås, Södertälje and Uppsalade,
and, admittedly, they have some weight in the state and municipal
authorities.
Supported by diaspora organizations of other nationalities in Sweden,
they fight against Azerbaijani and Turkish organizations. The Swedish
parliament has two MPs of Armenian origin. Swedish Social Democratic
Party, which is the strongest in the country, at its lastest meeting
on Oct. 29 this year decided to recognize the so-called Armenian
"genocide". Together with the Turkish Diaspora, we will do everything
possible to prevent the Swedish parliament from taking this decision
while the Armenian Diaspora is doing everything possible to get
it passed.
Do you know cases of clash between Azerbaijani and Armenian Diaspora
organizations in Sweden?
Sweden is home to 8 million people 1 million of which are migrants.
Migrants enjoy the same rights as the indigenous people. They create
cultural organizations, develop close ties with their historic
homeland and have an access to education in their native language. It
is strictly banned to carry out any policy of discrimination in any
area and at any level. It may entail a very serious court decision.
So, there are no open clashes between national organizations in Sweden.
This does not mean that we do not fight the Armenian Diaspora.
Moreover, we are regularly threatened by local Armenians ranging
from simple forms of threats by telephone. Many local Armenians –
representatives of the Dashnaksutun Party – try to put pressure on
us in various ways. During our meetings we share with each other
experiences to confront them.
What was reaction of local Azerbaijanis and Armenians to signing of
the Turkey and Armenia protocols?
To put it mildly, our diaspora organizations were surprised at
signing of the protocols. It was widely debated both by Azerbaijanis
and Turkish people in Sweden. We have discussed it with the Turkish
Diaspora. We believe our peoples share many common roots, history
and problems. Opposition to Armenians is one of them. I think we must
always act together in this matter.
That is why we opposed the signing. We appealed to the Turkish Embassy
in Sweden and sent a letter of protest. Turkish Minister Egemen Bagish
and Turkey’s representative to Council of Europe Volkan Bozkirin
visited Sweden on Nov. 13.We met with them and asked how Turkey,
which has always stated that the border with Armenia will not open
until Armenia liberates Azerbaijan’s occupied lands, can establish
ties with Armenia? Bagish’s answer was diplomatic and not different
from those that usually high-rank officials say.