CLINTON SAYS KARABAKH PEACE IMPORTANT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

Tert.am
17:59 ~U 16.03.10

The resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict would reflect
positively on the situation with human rights in both Armenia and
Azerbaijan, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Monday,
reports RFE/RL.

Clinton made the remark at a meeting with international journalists
and bloggers visiting the US State Department.

Responding to a question from an RFE/RL reporter, she dismissed claims
that Washington is turning a blind eye to human rights violations in
Azerbaijan because of its economic and geopolitical interests in the
oil-rich country.

"We are aware of the issues both in Azerbaijan and Armenia," she said,
singling out the case of two Azerbaijani bloggers who were jailed
"over views expressed."

Clinton insisted that the US administration is doing its best to
broker a solution to the Karabakh conflict.

"We think that if the conflict is resolved a lot of the human rights
issues will be solved too," she said.

In its annual report on human rights around the world released on
Friday, the US State Department criticized the governments of both
South Caucasus states. It said in particular that the authorities
in Yerevan have continued to stifle dissent, manipulate elections,
tolerate police brutality and restrict judicial independence over
the past year.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress