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Rauf Arifoghlu: â€œThe government could not be interested in spread of information about US plan to overthrow itâ€ â€“ INTERVIEW

Rauf Arifoghlu: â€œThe government could not be interested in spread of information about US plan to overthrow itâ€ â€“ <font color=red> INTERVIEW </font>

15 July 2009 13:55 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Ramil Mammadli â€“ APA. Interview with Yeni Musavat editor-in-chief Rauf Arifoghlu

- Yesterday Yeni Musavat published an article â€œUS was planning to overthrow the governmentâ€, which was accepted not univocally. Relatives of the young people mentioned in the article and some members of the political camp estimated it as a sabotage and contract publication. What is your opinion about that?

- I understand the relatives of those young people, but I donâ€™t agree with the political camp. I would like to underline that it was repeatedly pointed out in the article that it based on the government sources. But truth of that information is another question. They attempt to slander us while claiming that it was delivered to us as a contract article.

- Yeni Musavat founder Isa Gambar told journalists today that the article was purposefully delivered to the newspaper by the government. What is your opinion about his statement?

- It is possible theoretically and technologically that such articles are delivered to the newspaper by some sources. Similar cases are faced in the world and local newspapers for many times. Even if we knew that we would publish this information in any case, of course, in edited version. But it was not so. We found this information themselves, we made clear that this information was spread among the government lobby and published that. The government accused the local human rights organizations, opposition, international organizations and diplomatic corpse in the politicizing of the issue. The strong statement by the Interior Ministry and General Prosecutorâ€™s Office proved that. If the government sharply reacts to any political version of the arrest, why it delivers the claims seriously politicizing the issue to us? How the government could be interested in publicizing of the US plan to overthrow it? It is not desirable for it. Therefore I donâ€™t understand accusations against us.
Two young men were arrested as a hooligan and they intend to arrest them for long time on the non-political basis. Yeni Musavat reporter tried to prove in yesterdayâ€™s article that it is a political issue that they are looking forward to establish all democratic processes on the basis of youth movement in 2013â€¦The government has an information that US is interested in the youth movement in Azerbaijan for its future targetsâ€¦
We write that the arrests of youth are linked with this issue, this process will continue and we warn them. We have only good intentions. Who does not think so, let them be careful while expressing it.

- Do the politicians from opposition camp or members of NGOs regularly criticize the newspaper led by you? What is the reason for that?

- I think we are mostly criticized because our newspaper is well-known and seriously impact of the public opinion. If such article were published in another newspaper, Iâ€™m sure that no one would pay attention to it. As a matter of fact, the writings in Yeni Musavat are read not only in Azerbaijan but also abroad. Yeni Musavat is a supporter of all in deadlock whether they are from the power of the opposition.

- Will Isa Gambar give up the founding of Yeni Musavat newspaper?

- It completely depends on him. This issue is not on the agenda for me and my staff.