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Azerbaijani parliamentarian: I am threatened

18 May 2011 11:28 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Parvin Abbasov â€“ APA. Chairman of the United Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (UAPFP), MP Gudrat Hasanguliyev criticized the members of the Public Chamberâ€™s Coordination Council for resting in Yessentuki resort city. In his interview to APA Hasanguliyev said the Public Chamber is being treated in Yessentuki, he wished recovery to its members, added that in his statements he particularly had in view Panah Huseyn.
â€œIf I am not mistaken, young people were also arrested after they left for Yessentuki. The young people joined the unauthorized demonstration with their decision. They could have waited for the end of the investigation. They do not see shortcomings in their actions, but curse me. I do not see any insult in my statement. My views contain a little fact, which is to make all, especially the youth, think. The young people are in prison, while they are in the resort. The leaders of the Public Chamber call on others to join the action, invite women to the demonstrations, but do not allow their women to join the actions. They do not want anybody to speak about it. They demand freedom of speech. They should approach my critical remarks soberly, not with hatred, they will benefit from it,â€ he said.

Chairman of the party said Nagorno Karabakh problem and situation in the country were discussed at the meeting with President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) Petros Efthymiou in Azerbaijan last week.
â€œThe position of the chairmen of all political parties was similar concerning Karabakh problem. But there was discrepancy in the issues on the state of democracy in the country. Some assessed the situation in dark shades, some said the situation is normal, others said it should be improvedâ€¦â€ he said.

He said it is wrong to link the solution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict to the situation in the country.
â€œSometimes they underline that the solution of Karabakh problem is connected with the democratic forces that came to power in Armenia and Azerbaijan. The party chairman, who said this, also attended the meeting. I said that some international organizations share this position and expect that the Karabakh problem will be solved after Azerbaijan and Armenia reach â€œthe level of democracyâ€ that they wish. I said Nagorno Karabakh problem is a great threat to the region, it is not right to link it to the democracy of the country, they manipulate it. One nation, state raised territorial claim against another state and there exists the principle of territorial integrity. The international organizations should also share this position,â€ he said.

Noting that there was discrepancy at the meeting, the chairman of the party said it was connected with the approach of the international organizations to Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
â€œAli Karimli considers that though the Azerbaijani authoritiesâ€™ statements on Nagorno Karabakh are true, the international organizations do not believe them, as Azerbaijan is not a democratic country. On the other hand, they say the international organizations see everything in Azerbaijan, for example, they know who back the arrests, and therefore they express protest etc. How is it that the international organizations know the truth about the arrest of one person, but do not know the truth about one million refugees? Why donâ€™t they get information about these arrests from the authorities, while they get information about Nagorno Karabakh conflict from the authorities? Why do they believe Ali Karimliâ€™s information about the arrests, but not about Nagorno Karabakh?

He recalled liberating arrested young persons: â€œin my opinion, we must collide with international organizations not for domestic issues, but in Karabakh issue. I unambiguously support and welcome Azerbaijani presidentâ€™s position on Karabakh issue. But I can not understand pretext in the other issuesâ€.

Hasanguliyev considers that the arrested during April 2 rally attended the unauthorized rally falling into the emotions and falling under the influence if carried out propaganda and became victims of venture: â€œNow they know that Elnur Majidli was arrested at the day when member of Public Chamberâ€™s Coordination Council Panah Huseyn left for Yessentuki to restâ€. The party chairman urged the government to give a chance to these youth.

Chairman of UAPFP also criticized the political forces for not expressing severe reaction to the rallies held on hijab and said that the religious means in order to come to power was wrong: â€œthere is a factor, flow called Islamic fundamentalism, Islamic fanaticism. It is impossible to deny it. One cannot allow it in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is a worldly countryâ€.

Hasanguliyev proposed the prohibition of womenâ€™s closing of face in Azerbaijan like in France: â€œIt is unacceptable for schoolgirl to wear veil and hijab, because she doesnâ€™t do it by her will. I support the position of the government, law-enforcement bodies and the Azerbaijani authorities in this issue. The struggle against religious fanaticism must be strengthened. We must create an unbearable environment for those forces in order to prevent them from becoming political power,â€ he said.

He underlined that religion in Azerbaijan was at the stage of turning into political factor and said that he was threatened for such speeches: â€œHonestly speaking, it was not said directly to me. But the threats were brought to me with various means, by certain persons. In real, these threats had not withdrawn me, contrary, these threats clarified me the increase of dangerâ€™s amountâ€.

UAPFP chairman said that the issue on financing of parties from the state budget will be discussed in 2012: â€œThis issue will be discussed with the Council of Europe and OSCE, thatâ€™s why it will take some time. Therefore, the issue will be covered in the budget for 2012, not when amendments and annexes are made to the budget in May,â€ he said.

According to him, the main principle in the partiesâ€™ financing was the representation in the parliament: â€œFailing, the persons will start to establish party in order to take money from the government. If the government wants to fiancÃ© not only the parties represented in the government but the others too, we are not against it, we will welcome itâ€.