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Department Chief of the Azerbaijan Presidential Administration: â€œI doubt the OSCE Field Assessment Mission reportâ€™s fidelity to principle and objectivenessâ€ â€“ INTERVIEW

29 March 2011 15:56 (UTC +04:00)

â€œIt is absolutely not correct to seek parallel between the developments in Arab countries and current situation in Azerbaijanâ€

Baku. Parvin Abbasov â€“ APA. Ali Hasanov, Chief of the Public Policy Department of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan, gives interview to APA

- Can the OSCE Field Assessment Mission report be considered as fair and objective?

- We are learning the OSCE Field Assessment Missionâ€™s report now. The government of Azerbaijan will make statement expressing its position that how objective was the mission in its report, what issues were objectively mentioned and what issues they considered from the viewpoint of â€œno one should be offended and accusedâ€. Regarding my personal opinion, I doubt the OSCE Field Assessment Mission reportâ€™s fidelity to principle and objectiveness. I doubt it because they pursue policy of â€œnot to offendâ€ the sides in the solution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno Karabakh conflict, to seek common points, to find balance between the occupants and sufferers from the occupation, to bring the positions of the sides together. Nevertheless the co-chairs institution had to show principal attitude to this issue from very beginning and to show principal position. The co-chair countries have an important influence on the formation of the world policy and development of international relations. They had to give objective legal assessment to this issue from very beginning, to show certain will and to force the Armenians to stop the aggressive policy. Despite four UN resolutions, Azerbaijani lands are under the occupation for years. The UN resolution against dictatorship in Libya is being immediately and strongly fulfilled, but there are no serious efforts for fulfillment of UN resolutions on Armenia. The co-chair countries have not made serious efforts to force the Armenians to withdraw their forces from the occupied territories. The number of victims of the Armenian occupation in Azerbaijani lands is much more than victims of clashes between the rebels and Gaddafi troops in Libya. The number of sufferers from Armenian occupation in the Azerbaijani lands is much more than sufferers there â€“ more than one million. Cruelties committed by the Armenians in Khojaly, Malibeyli, Dashalty and other regions are much more tragic and bloody than Gaddafiâ€™s actions. The indifferent attitude to all of these is a result of double approach of the world policy, including the co-chair countries. Therefore, I doubt the OSCE Field Assessment Mission reportâ€™s fidelity to principle and objectiveness.

- The Public Chamber of the opposition parties and organizations is planning to hold an action on April 2. Someone try to describe April 2 as the beginning of uprising on the back of the developments in Arab countriesâ€¦

- It is absolutely not correct to seek parallel between the current situation in Azerbaijan and the developments in Arab countries. Of course, there are some forces, parties and people in Azerbaijan, who wish to see tensions, confrontation between the government and opposition, interference of the outside forces and disorder in the policy of Azerbaijan pursued today. But they have no public support and background. Therefore I consider this parallel absolutely incorrect. Regarding the oppositionâ€™s efforts to hold actions, we are normally reacting to their actions held within the law. We understand their intention to hold meetings and we say that it is their right, they may to hold it. But the meetings should be organized in the places acceptable by the law. The government of Azerbaijan allocated and will allocate such places further.

- Correspondent of the Azadlig newspaper Seymur Hazi, who was beaten by the unidentified persons on the way home on March 25, says it is connected with his journalistic activity. What can you say about it?

- The Interior Ministry is carrying out investigation with this regard. On March 28, a special group was established together with the Press Council, investigation is underway. If it happened, and if it happened in connection with his journalistic activity, the offender will be found and punished. But unfortunately, such simulations, unconfirmed cases have recently happened in Azerbaijan. As is known, some opposition forces in Azerbaijan carry out campaigns against Azerbaijani government. The issues related to press, journalism are exaggerated too much. As I have said, the recent issue is being investigated, we will express our opinion after the result is known. I want to reiterate the position of Azerbaijani government that the government of Azerbaijan is the guarantor of free press, freedom of press, expression, political pluralism are the main points of the policy pursued by the Azerbaijani state. Azerbaijanâ€™s President Ilham Aliyev proved during his presidency that he is interested in the development of free media in Azerbaijan. All necessary support is given by the state for this.

-What can you say about the state of the anti-corruption measures taken in the country?

- Anti-corruption measures are being taken efficiently in Azerbaijan, they have actual results, the results are obvious. There is improvement in all spheres. These measures will be taken until all negative points alien to our nation, state, our present policy are eliminated. We are sure that we will achieve all significant results towards the solution of this problem.

- Azerbaijanâ€™s President was invited to Iran to participate in the Nowruz festivities. Why didnâ€™t this visit take place?

-The Iranian side invited Mr. President to Iran to celebrate the Nowruz festivities. But as is known, Nowruz festivities were held in Azerbaijan and Mr. Presidentâ€™s schedule was rigid. Therefore, he could not visit Iran. Generally, Azerbaijani President did not plan to pay such a visit to Iran.