Day.az, Azerbaijan
Dec 25 2009
Senior Azeri official comments on Karabakh talks, media freedom
The head of the socio-political department of the Azerbaijani
president’s administration has said that the country has made big
advances in domestic and foreign policy and its international prestige
has been strengthened. Summing up the results of the past year and
looking forward to next in an interview on a website, Ali Hasanov said
one of the country’s main foreign policy issues was achieving a
settlement to the conflict over Nagornyy Karabakh, which has remained
unresolved because of Armenia’s intransigent position. He believed
international public opinion was on Azerbaijan’s side but voiced
concern over moves to reopen Turkey’s borders with Armenia. He praised
the ruling New Azerbaijan Party for its efforts to create a civic
society and its contribution to the country’s economic development.
While welcoming the development of freedom of speech and information
he criticized some journalists for their lack of professionalism. The
following are excerpts from the interview entitled "Priorities in
domestic and foreign policy were put into practice in Azerbaijan in
2009", published on the Azerbaijani website Day.az on 25 December;
subheadings have been inserted editorially:
An interview on the results of 2009 with the head of the department
for socio-political affairs of the Azerbaijani president’s
administration, Ali Hasanov.
[unnamed correspondent] Ali muallim [mode of address], would you say
that 2009 has been a significant year for Azerbaijan?
Achievements in 2009
[Hasanov] There have been a wealth of important events for Azerbaijan
in 2009 and our priority measures in domestic and foreign policy have
been successfully put into practice. The strengthening of our
statehood, the continuation of political, economic and legal reforms,
an intensive socio-economic development, an improvement in the
well-being of the population, a deepening of the process of
democratization, an increase in Azerbaijan’s international prestige,
extra efforts to resolve the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over
Nagornyy Karabakh, the building of the army, the protection of our
cultural heritage and national-spiritual values and other important
issues have been the main directions of the political course of
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
I can confidently say that the achievements in all spheres in previous
years have been consolidated even more, and as a result of the head of
state’s considered and pragmatic political course the intensive and
all-round development of Azerbaijan has been ensured. [passage
omitted: on Azerbaijan’s economic achievements]
[correspondent] Speaking about Azerbaijan’s foreign policy in 2009,
one is drawn first and foremost to the process of the settlement of
the Nagornyy Karabakh problem. This year talks have become more
intensified, there have been numerous visits to the region by the
co-chairmen of the Minsk Group of the OSCE [Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe] and some contours of an agreement have
already been discussed in the press. Do you think that this year has
been a successful one in terms of a settlement to the conflict?
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict
[Hasanov] A settlement to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over
Nagornyy Karabakh based on international legal requirements and the
restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity are a priority of
Azerbaijan’s foreign policy. Because of Armenia’s destructive policy,
which runs counter to international law, the talks which have been
held up to now have yielded no result. Even so, significant successes
in bringing to the attention of the world public the truth about the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict have been achieved in the past as a result
of Azerbaijan’s diplomatic efforts. The fact of Armenia’s expansionist
policy has been acknowledged at all kinds of levels and by influential
international organizations and the majority of states have expressed
their support for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. Following the
signing of the Moscow declaration in November 2008 the process of
talks intensified and numerous meetings were held between the
presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan and their foreign ministers.
There have been a number of visits to the region by the co-chairmen of
the Minsk Group of the OSCE and efforts to resolve the conflict by the
heads of the countries of the co-chairmen have also not escaped
attention. Both the parties involved in the conflict and the
co-chairmen have shared information about certain details of the
settlement process.
There have been suggestions that some success has been achieved at the
talks and a number of important points have been agreed. However, the
reality is that the conflict remains unresolved. The main reason for
this is that on certain vital points Armenia has still not budged from
the position she has been occupying. The world public and the
co-chairmen of the Minsk Group of the OSCE are well aware that
Azerbaijan is the party which is in the right in the matter of a
settlement to the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. It is intolerable that
in the 20th century 20 per cent of a country that is a member of the
Council of Europe should be occupied by another member-country and
that over a million refugees and forced migrants have been condemned
to living in deplorable conditions.
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has said that Azerbaijan no longer
intends to tolerate the status-quo which benefits Armenia. Today
Azerbaijan is a thoroughly developed country with great economic
potential and a strong army. In recent years the funds which have been
allocated to Azerbaijan’s armed forces are approximate to Armenia’s
budget, a ministry of the defence industry has been created in our
country and weapons have started to be produced. Why should we
tolerate the occupation of our lands when international law and
military might are on Azerbaijan’s side? Before the recent meeting
with the Armenian head of state, the Azerbaijani president issued a
tough statement, bearing in mind precisely these realities. At this
moment in time the fact that talks are being held in accordance with
Azerbaijan’s interests, Armenia’s rejection of its former intransigent
rhetoric, the efforts by leading world centres of power to resolve the
conflict and most important of all the recognition by the
international public that Azerbaijan is the side that is in the right
and the publicizing of the question of a just settlement to the
conflict are successes claimed by Azerbaijan in the matter of a
resolution to the problem of Nagornyy Karabakh. One would like to
think that greater results will be achieved in the coming years.
Incidentally, this year an important event occurred in the life of the
Azerbaijani community in Nagornyy Karabakh. It is common knowledge
that the Public Association of the Azerbaijani Community of Nagornyy
Karabakh was set up in June. One hopes that in the years to come the
Azerbaijani community will be even more active and will make its
contribution to a settlement to the conflict in accordance with our
interests.
Turkey’s role
[correspondent] Ali muallim, Turkey also became active at one stage of
the talks process. Efforts were also made to open the borders between
Turkey and Armenia and to restore diplomatic links. How might this
question, which has been the cause of serious dissatisfaction and
concern on the part of the public, affect a settlement to the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict?
[Hasanov] Turkey is Azerbaijan’s closest ally, friend and brother. Of
course, Azerbaijan would like Turkey to increase its role and its
efforts in resolving the conflict. Turkey, which has expressed its
support for Azerbaijan since the start of the conflict, closed its
borders with Armenia after the Armenians occupied Kalbacar in 1993. In
the course of these years Turkey and Azerbaijan have mutually
supported one another at all levels, and the interests of each country
have been taken into account in resolving all questions. Naturally,
with the conflict unresolved and no end to the occupation in sight,
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity has not been restored, and the
initiatives and practical activity to open the borders with Armenia
have been the cause of just dissatisfaction both on the part of the
people of Azerbaijan and the people of Turkey.
It is Azerbaijani public opinion that the opening of the borders while
the conflict remains unresolved would only strengthen Armenia and help
rebuild the economy of a hostile country, and Yerevan, which has no
vested interest in any compromises, will get even tougher.
On the other hand, has Armenia given up on its claims on Turkey? Is
there any guarantee that the Armenians will not press on with their
claims about "genocide", territorial and other claims? Obviously, the
opening of the borders is not in the interests of Azerbaijan or
Turkey. The people of Azerbaijan and Turkey don’t want to believe that
the protocols signed in Zurich on 10 October will become the basis for
practical activity in the matter of bringing Turkey and Armenia closer
together.
Developing a civic society
[correspondent] Do you think the measures taken to develop a civic
society in 2009 have been a success?
[Hasanov] As you know, Azerbaijani legislation has been brought into
line with international standards and laws are gradually being
improved, taking account of current world trends. The necessary
conditions exist for the free and unhindered activities of the
institutions of a civic society. The rapid socio-economic development
in recent times, the positive changes caused by a deepening of
democracy in society and the renewal of public consciousness have
brought about the need to shape a new model of relations in society
and change in the activities of institutions of a civic society.
Because of the lack of a public need, such damaging elements as
radicalism and the desire to destroy in public activity have begun to
be replaced by more modern methods of struggle. It is natural that the
proponents of radical methods of struggle have departed the political
scene and their place has been taken by political forces who support a
civilized struggle. It is the duty of the state to create a normal
environment for political struggle in society.
It is society itself that decides who will remain in politics and who
will quit the political scene. Since New Azerbaijan (NAP) is a party
which has done much to preserve Azerbaijan’s independence and the
country’s all-round development which meets the needs of society,
which is constantly renewing itself and bringing together within its
ranks Azerbaijan’s most renowned scientists and young people who are
trying to build and to create, our people have always put great trust
in it. There is no doubt that the NAP will continue to lead the way
and will make an indispensable contribution to Azerbaijan’s continued
development.
Freedom of speech, media
In recent years important measures to develop freedom of speech and
information, the media and the non-governmental sector have been
carried out in Azerbaijan. Bringing the activities of the
non-governmental sector into line with today’s demands, increasing its
role in the life of society, strengthening civil initiative and
improving the activities of the media, which at the same time are
considered to be one of the main attributes of democracy and the main
means of ensuring transparency in society, and the development of
freedom of speech and information have become important questions
which need to be resolved.
Taking precisely these requirements into account, Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev endorsed in 2007 "The concept of state support
for non-governmental organizations" and in 2008 "The concept of state
support for the development of the media". The Council of State
Support for Non-Governmental Organizations [NGOs] under the
Azerbaijani President and the Fund of State Support for the
Development of the Media under the Azerbaijani President, which were
set up in accordance with the requirements of these documents, have
already begun implementing support for NGOs and the media. Taking into
account the funds allocated from the state budget for 2010, 11m manats
[approx 13.7m US dollars] have been provided for the improvement of
the activities of NGOs and the media and the funding of their
projects.
[correspondent] When these establishments were set up, some local and
foreign organizations claimed that state funding of NGOs and the media
would have a negative effect on their activities.
[Hasanov] There was no justification for such claims. If problems have
arisen in the developments of institutions of a civic society why
shouldn’t the state help in solving them? You have to bear in mind
that these establishments assess not organizations but projects, and
it is to projects that the funds are allocated. Millions of euros are
currently being allocated from the state budget in the developed
European countries to preserve and develop the NGO sector. In 2009
subsidies to the tune of 13m euros were allocated to the press in
Austria. In Sweden this amount was even a little higher. As we can
see, none of this stands up to criticism. We are studying and adopting
the best practice from the developed countries. It is our aim to
develop a civic society and to create the maximum conditions for the
development of democratic institutions.
Foreign opposition
[correspondent] Even though numerous measures linked with the
development of the institutions of a civic society have been carried
out, some foreign organizations claim that the situation as regards
freedom of speech in Azerbaijan has deteriorated and they point to the
arrest of journalists to confirm this.
[Hasanov] It is with a feeling of regret that I have to say that some
foreign organizations have developed a tendentious attitude towards
Azerbaijan. They see only problems in Azerbaijan, and when there are
no problems they try to invent them. For example, an organization
calling itself "Free Reporters" is spreading damaging statements every
day. But this organization has not once mentioned the many measures
that have been carried out in connection with the development of
freedom of speech and information and the media in Azerbaijan.
The Freedom House organization has for a long time now been trying to
draw attention through damaging reports, which are not based on facts,
about Azerbaijan. In the organization’s report for this year entitled
"Map of Freedom", the integral part of Azerbaijan, Nagornyy Karabakh,
is depicted as the joint territory of Azerbaijan and Armenia. In a
situation where Abkhazia and South Ossetia are shown as Georgian
territory, and the Dniester republic as Moldovan territory, the
representation of Nagornyy Karabakh as the joint territory of
Azerbaijan and Armenia cannot be welcomed. Influential international
organizations and countries over the world recognize Nagornyy Karabakh
as the territory of Azerbaijan and support Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity. By ignoring this fact Freedom House is proving its
hostility and the fact that it serves the interests of the Armenians.
Furthermore, the depiction of Armenia, where fundamental human rights
are being violated, peaceful demonstrators are being shot and people
are abandoning their country, as "relatively free", whereas Azerbaijan
is listed among the "non-free" countries, is, to say the least,
unjust.
In Azerbaijan today more than 4,000 organs of the press and hundreds
of newspapers and magazines are registered at the Ministry of Justice.
The press is free of VAT, funds for its development are allocated from
the state budget and measures are carried out for the social
protection of journalists. One wonders why these organizations do not
mention these issues.
Criticism of journalists
True, the situation in the Azerbaijani world of journalism is not as
it should be. There have been cases of the abuse of conditions in the
sphere of freedom of the media. The material-technical base of the
press is known to be weak, the level of professionalism of journalists
is low and there have been cases of crude violation of Azerbaijani
legislation and the rules of professional behaviour by journalists.
Ordinary citizens, scientists, bureaucrats and businessmen who have
been insulted have filed actions and in some cases this has led to the
use of sanctions against journalists. As you know, the adoption of the
law on discrimination and defamation of journalists’ activity has been
broadly discussed for some time.
At the present moment measures are being taken to eradicate these
negative cases in our journalistic profession. The Foundation of State
Support for the development of the Media, the Press Council, the OSCE
and the Council of Europe are implementing numerous projects for the
development of journalists’ professionalism, improving the work of the
media, strengthening their material-technical base and cooperation
between the media and state bodies and regulating the right to obtain
information in line with the law, and in other directions. The
duration and the effectiveness of these measures are creating
confidence that the current negative cases will be reduced to a
minimum and will eventually be eliminated altogether. Only then can a
law on defamation be adopted.
I should add that demands have been made recently about releasing
people who have committed a specific criminal act because they are
journalists. Azerbaijani legislation has no mechanism for release from
criminal responsibility by virtue of affiliation to a professional
organization or profession. If there is dissatisfaction at the verdict
of a court one can refer to a higher authority and, eventually, to the
European Court of Human Rights. [passage omitted: Hasanov sums up]
[translated from Russian]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
