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Matthew Bryza: â€œOSCE election observers were particularly sharp in their criticism of the electoral process in Azerbaijanâ€

15 November 2013 11:29 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Victoria Dementyeva – APA. “President Ilham Aliyev faced no real competition for a third term and election observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe were particularly sharp in their criticism of the electoral process,” said former U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan, Director of the International Center for Defense and Security in Estonia Matthew Bryza in his article for CNN, APA reports.

The article says: “President Aliyev is genuinely popular. Two years ago, when I served as U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan, independent polls reported Aliyev's approval rating at between 83 percent and 86 percent. These numbers, perhaps unimaginable for a Western political leader, reflect the support he enjoys for delivering what Azerbaijani citizens crave most: stability.

Still, even as the economy grows, many younger Azerbaijanis aren’t satisfied with a monopolistic system they see as limiting opportunity and social justice. Facebook activists and journalists who call for the government's demise are often met with confrontation. Corruption in the education system is particularly debilitating. Fortunately, a reformist wind may be blowing. Last spring, the legendarily corrupt minister of education was replaced by a young reformer. Other positive changes are underway as well.

Azerbaijan underwent breakneck modernization just 22 years after its independence from the Soviet Union. The United States and its European allies would be wise not to write off Azerbaijan, and instead pursue the full range of interests – and values – they share with this small, but strategically significant country. On security, Azerbaijan offered U.S. military aircraft unlimited over-flights, and subsequently emerged as a crucial resupply corridor for one-third of the non-lethal supplies for coalition forces in Afghanistan. Cooperation on counterterrorism has also been exceptional, thwarting attacks to save many American lives, including my own. Azerbaijan is also an important energy partner, currently supplying nearly 700,000 barrels per day of oil to European and global markets.”|