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Ali Hasanov: â€œWe estimate the non-objective criticism against Azerbaijan as an indication of double standardsâ€

13 March 2008 16:01 (UTC +04:00)

Head of Azerbaijani Presidentâ€™s Office socio-political department Ali Hasanov has taken a stance on the report drawn up by the U.S. Department of State on Human Rights for 2007, APA reports. Ali Hasanov said that the Government of Azerbaijan had several times stated that it was loyal to the ideals of protection of Human Rights and had always proved this.
â€œImportant activities have lately been carried out in Azerbaijan for the reinforcement of democracy, protection of Human Rights and development of human capital. Approval of new long-term programs aims at strengthening the activities in this field. The Government considers it necessary to notice that the fundamental rights of over one million refugees and IDPs have been violated as a result of Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict lasting for 20 years and it has had a negative influence on the state of Human Rights. The Government of Azerbaijan reiterates as a part of Azerbaijani territories have been occupied by Armenia, Azerbaijan is not able to ensure the rights of its citizens, as well as the rights of the citizens of Armenian origin in these territories. Considering of bloody events in Armenia, mass arrests of parliament members and opposition leaders, crackdown on the peaceful demonstrators, killing of 8 and injuring more than 100 people as it was officially announced, declaration of state of emergency, restriction of journalists moves, censorship, complete freezing of political activity and other anti-democratic measures, as well as non-acute reaction to the Armenian intensive violation of ceasefire, we estimated the non-objective criticism against Azerbaijan as an indication of double standardsâ€. To A. Hasanov, the Government of Azerbaijan has underlined that alongside with constructive criticism in its Human Rights Report for 2007, US Department of State has not described Azerbaijanâ€™s achievements toward the democratic development, human rights and freedoms of speech and press and used suspected sources, giving misinterpreted facts and commented on the speeches of government officials, a number of opinions and remarks described in the report arose from unenlightening and shallow analysis of the issues, so that general estimation of the report is unacceptable. â€œAzerbaijan is confirming its attitude for further development of necessary measures toward providing of human rights of the people under its jurisdiction. At the same time, considering universal value of the human rights, the Government of Azerbaijan would like to remind necessity of its protection without any exception in both developing and developed countries of the worldâ€.