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Abbas Abbasov: There were people who envied even my successful resignation

25 September 2007 10:07 (UTC +04:00)

- Why did you resign from the post of First Deputy Prime Minister and presidency of the Wrestling Federation?
- I served my people and state for 15 years. I was tired, thatâ€™s why I offered, my resignation. This is a civil way. I have no problems, I have not quarreled with anyone. I have very excellent relations with everybody, I was awarded â€œIstiglalâ€ order, there is no higher order than thisâ€¦ I am satisfied with my life and my children. I am free now, I get up whenever I want, meet whoever I want. I myself offered my resignation from the post of federation president. I was offered honorary presidency, and I agreed. Life is dialectical, nothing is constant. Today you hold the microphone and ask questions, someone else may hold the microphone for you tomorrow. One should be vigorous and understand life. Life is beautiful, one should live it properly. I am far from intrigues and I want everyone to know it.
- What was the reaction when you offered your resignation?
- My resignation was not so easy. Mr. President did not want me to resign. But 15-year rigid schedule tired me. I think that every person should choose his own way himself. I chose my way and the state appraised it. I was awarded and respected. I am not less respected now as an ordinary citizen.
- You are not so active in the ongoing socio-political processesâ€¦
- Why do you think so? I am serving Azerbaijan and it will be so till the end of my life.
- Are you satisfied with your son Aydin Abbasov as a parliamentarian and vice-president of Wrestling Federation?
- Every father gives advice to his son. My son should serve his people and state like me. He watches the competition as a vice-president. He gives and has to give help. This is the duty of everyone, who loves his motherland. I could have minded my own business, since I am no more president of the federation. But it is my civil duty to closely watch the world championship within a week, I should do this.
- You were linked to mafiaâ€¦
- Those who hate me did this. It seems that somebody is interested in this. This is life. It can not be good for everybodyâ€¦ There were people who envied even my successful resignation. How could it be that Abbas Abbasov resigned, and with so great respectâ€¦ This is natural. My aim is to serve my people and state.
- There were rumors about your relations with Dagestanisâ€¦
- I have relations with the whole world. And it will be so till the end of my life. One should be sociable.
- Who did not like you?
- As I already mentioned, everybody may have adversaries. People may be envious. My enemies are those who order articles in newspapers. You know better how articles are written in the newspapers. State newspaper never writes anything bad about meâ€¦Only opposition newspapers do such things. But they should write correctly. If the fact is confirmed, they can write. There is no need to insult, write indecent words until court makes decision.
- How do you assess imprisonment of journalists?
- I am uninformed about it. I have no time to look at anything.
- But how are you informed about articles written about you?
- My friends call me and say that they read something bad about me. And I ask them what have they read, and they say content of article. My reaction is: let them writeâ€¦.
- Your resignation was linked with coup d’etat occurred before parliamentary electionsâ€¦
- I regard that political figure has personal ambitions and it can not be higher than his head. They should serve to policy of the state and desire of nation. There is law, state, statehood, Constitution. No one can pretend to me on my 15-year contributions. I have always lived as free Azerbaijani citizen. I am living freely at present.
- You prefer to live in Moscow, do not youâ€¦
- No, I am in Azerbaijan. Why should I live in Russia? But I visit Russia, sometimes live in France, Italy, Spain. I live wherever I want.
- Have you apartment in the above-said countries?
- No. I live in hotels there. If I go there for walk, then I should live in hotels.
- But it is natural if anyone who took high post for a long time has house abroadâ€¦.
- I always served my country, nation, I was never engaged in plundering. Those who were engaged in plundering can have houses, apartments abroad. But I have no such opportunity.
- What is your assessment on the policy pursued in Azerbaijan at present?
- I regard that our government functions normally. It is already 3 years that GDP is no less than 35% in the country. There is no such growth in any country. And it shows that government functions normally, economic relations have been established and integration policy is carried out successfully. Therefore I regard that there is no need for additional explanations, libel, spot. I can only say that we have one enemy and it is Armenia who occupied our regions. Every honest, diligent man should deal with this problem. The nation should unite. I will never oppose my nation, my state. I will say anything which I do not like. I agree with everything today. I have no any problem. And I always see respect, care. I have no any claim.
- You were responsible person in the establishment of relations between Azerbaijan and CIS for a long time. How do you assess existing relations between Russia and Azerbaijan?
- We have good relations with Russia. Our compatriots living there face no problem. They are only required to observe rules of the country they live. No Azerbaijani is insulted and withdrawn in Russia. Some forces such cases to occur. But it will not happen, because policy of the state is in right direction. Georgia and Russia have no normal relations, therefore Georgians are treated badly there. But Azerbaijan and Russia have normal relations.
- Do interstate relations depend on personal relations?
- All the issues are linked with personal relations first of all. If you do not like me, you would never contact with me. /APA/