REACTION OF FREEDOM HOUSE IS A REFLECTION OF THE ROLE OF RICH ARMENIAN DIASPORA
news.az
Dec 22 2009
Azerbaijan
Ilgar Mammadov Today, Turan News Agency published a brief interview
with Christopher Walker, Director of Studies for Europe and Eurasia
of the Freedom House.
Mr. Walker called ‘illogical’ the attitude of Azerbaijanis to the
distorted map of South Caucasus produced by his organization:
"Armenia’s inclusion in the disputed territory designation has
reflected the de facto reality that separatists backed by Armenia
currently control the territory."
News.Az asked Azerbaijani political commentator Ilgar Mammadov for
his opinion on this issue and he said the following:
"This is absolutely unjust, unfair, inconsistent, and double-standard
approach by Freedom House. Otherwise, it should have applied the same
principle to Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Transdnestria. However,
that is not the case.
What we see is a clear example of ill-motivated pro-Armenian stance.
This error in mapping and reporting has been there for many years,
and Freedom House had been repeatedly informed about it. Its failure
to respond to the objective criticism is a sign of ill motivation.
Probably this is a reflection of the role of rich Armenian Diaspora in
US, or personal prejudice or affiliation of the responsible individuals
at the Freedom House.
In any case, all future reporting by Freedom House about democracy
in Azerbaijan will have adverse effect not only on the democracy
situation, but on the perceptions of the western democracies in
Azerbaijan. In that respect, the Freedom House stroke a major
blow to all international efforts to promote or defend democracy
in Azerbaijan."