Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug 23 2007
Iranian President’s Baku Visit not to Change State of Azerbaijani
Population in Iran – Leader of Azerbaijani Party
Azerbaijan, Baku / Òrend corr S. Ilhamgizi / Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s Baku visit will not change the problem
regarding violation of Iran’s Azerbaijani many-million population,
the leader of Azerbaijan National Independence Party (ANIP), Etibar
Mammadov, said to Trend on 23 August.
Iranian President was visiting Azerbaijan from 21 to 22 August.
Several agreements and a memorandum were signed between Azerbaijani
and Iranian Governments during the meeting.
According to Mammadov, observation of Iranian Azerbaijanis’ rights is
not under discussions and between Iran and Azerbaijan and
Ahmadinejad’s Baku visit will change nothing.
`The only problem in the bilateral relationships is violation of
Iran’s Azerbaijani population. Azerbaijani Government does not raise
the issue. Despite improvement of official relationships between the
countries, the state of our compatriots in Iran will not change,’
Mammadov said.
Azerbaijani Government at least should not impede putting the issue
on protection of Iranian Azerbaijanis for discussion, the leader of
the ANIP said. In this connection Mammadov mentioned recent events in
Baku, namely dispersal of protest actions in front of Iranian Embassy
by police.
`Azerbaijani Government should be in charge of protection of world
Azerbaijanis’ rights not depending in their residence. Unfortunately,
the authorities do not take this duty. That should not affect
Azerbaijan’s official relationships with other countries, including
Iran,’ Mammadov said.
Improvement of bilateral official relationships and Ahmadinejad’s
visit will not stop Iran secretly and openly assisting Armenia in
Nagorno-Karabakh issue, Mammadov said.
According to unofficial reports, Iran’s indigenous Azerbaijani
population makes up 35mln.
The leader of opposition ANIP is the deputy chairman of the
International Democratic Union. ANIP is a party criticizing Iranian
authorities for violation of the rights of the Azerbaijanis residing
in the country.