PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN IS VERY MUCH DISPLEASED WITH OBJECTIVITY OF THE FREEDOM HOUSE

ArmInfo
2010-01-14 12:39:00

ArmInfo. Evaluation of Freedom House is a subjective assessment of a
group of people who work on the order from the outside. Freedom House
bids up and just tries to survive the financial crisis, Political
Analysis and Informational Provision Department head at the Azerbaijani
Presidential Administration Elnur Aslanov told Trend agency.

To note, the organization Freedom House in its annual report on
‘Freedom in the World -2009’ called Azerbaijan an unfree state while
Armenia was classified as ‘partially free’ country. The report caused
the widespread anger of the official Baku which was followed with
the given interview.

Aslanov also added that Azerbaijan is making important steps in the
sphere of democracy via supporting of mass media and civil society. As
a proof of his very doubtful statement Aliyev’s follower presented
the financing volumes of Science Development Fund, the budget of which
amounted to 7 mln manats. Then he lost his way and blamed Armenia for
the economical crisis. He also directly blamed the Freedom House for
‘merkantile interests’, and added that things should be called by
their proper names.

Calling things by their proper names we would like to note that
during the years of presidency of the last Aliyev in Azerbaijan 1
journalist was killed, 68 put in prison and 274 – beaten. By the
way, not only the Freedom House ‘bribed’ by Aslanov, but other not
less authoritative international organizations call things by their
proper names. In particular, the Resolution of the European Parliament
dated 17 December expressed anxiety of its deputies in connection of
worsening of the situation in the freedom of the press in Azerbaijan.

The deputies condemned the practice of arresting, persecution and
imprisonment of the opposition journalists. The European Parliament
also called to immediately discharge all the imprisoned journalists.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress