FREEDOM HOUSE REPORT IS BIASED: AZERBAIJANI GOVERNMENT
Trend News Agency
Jan 15 2009
Azerbaijan
The Azerbaijani government says Freedom House’s assessments in its
latest report are biased. The U.S. non-governmental organization
conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom and
human rights.
"Unfortunately, assessments about Azerbaijan are based on the biased
views of Freedom House experts," head of the Azerbaijani Presidential
Administration’s Political and Social Department Ali Hasanov told
Trend News on Jan. 15. "The report resembles statements made by
so-called human right activists and opposition."
Freedom House described Azerbaijan as a non-free country in its annual
worldwide democracy report.
Azerbaijan’s occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region was described as a
partially free region and Armenia as a partially free country.
Hasanov said the government informed Freedom House about its opinion
of the report.
"The assessment of Azerbaijan’s socio-political and domestic life
compared to neighboring countries and separatist regimes is totally
biased," he said.
He said the assessments of Nagorno-Karabakh as a free regime and
Armenia as a partially free country are untrue.
"Both we and international organizations are aware of how Armenia
conducted its presidential election, as well as the country’s
human rights and media-freedom record and public administration,"
Hasanov said.
"Most international organizations give Azerbaijan a high rating," he
said. "Some, including Freedom House, are influenced by the political
views of others. Azerbaijan is a leader in the South Caucasus. Our
president pursues a totally independent policy. His policy is based
on the interests of the people."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
