AZAD: WASHINGTON MUST IMPOSE SANCTIONS ON AZERBAIJANI OFFICIALS BEGINNING WITH HIGHEST ONES

12:11 17/03/2015 >> IN THE WORLD

Elmar Chakhtakhtinski, the chairman of the organization AZAD
(Azerbaijani Americans for Democracy) in his interview to the newspaper
Azadlig expressed his attitude towards the anti-Western rhetoric of
the official Baku and bilateral relations noting that US-Azerbaijani
relations are built on a number of myths, the biggest of which is
about Azerbaijan’s strategic significance for America, Azerbaijani
information agency Turan reports.

According to the article, Chakhtakhtinski said that the strategic
partners of the US are the major states – European countries, Japan,
Egypt and others that maintain real power, large population, military
economical might; yet Azerbaijan has not got these all. That is why
one cannot speak about a strategic partnership between the US and
Azerbaijan. However, official Baku conceits that the US supports it
in everything and therefore turns a blind eye to the human rights
violations.

“If Azerbaijan really gets into a difficult situation, Washington
will hardly provide Baku with the expected support. The reason is that
the current relations are built on the lobbyists’ activities who take
money to create myths about the country’s significance and role for
Washington,” Chakhtakhtinski said.

He noted that the authorities in Baku actually eliminate the
pro-Western powers and rely on the groups that are inclined to
dictatorship and put up with corruption and looting. The Assistant
Secretary of State Victoria Nuland’s visit to Baku took place in these
very circumstances, which was a mistake, according to Chakhtakhtinski.

As the article has it, Chakhtakhtinski also stressed that the
corruption, continuous violations of human rights and other activities
of the authorities of Azerbaijan have spoiled the country image so
badly that it will become a serious obstacle to get the support of
the West in case a war breaks out.

“Remarkably, there are individuals in Washington who support
Azerbaijan’s point in Karabakh conflict, yet they turned into unwanted
people for Baku only because of criticizing it,” Chakhtakhtinski
stated.

The chairman of the organization AZAD is convinced that sanctions
should be imposed on the Azerbaijani officials, beginning with the
highest ones. Elmar Chakhtakhtinski also highlighted that the new US
ambassador to Azerbaijan has not been seen at Heydar Aliyev’s monument
so far, unlike his predecessor.

Related:

Former Ambassador: On background of falling oil prices it seems that
Azerbaijan is not key partner for United States

Nuland at meeting with Azerbaijan’s leadership expressed concern
about US human rights and media freedom