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Ali Huseynli: â€œNational Democratic Institute should make a turning point in its activity in Azerbaijanâ€

08 April 2013 13:11 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Mubariz Aslanov – APA. “The National Democratic Institute also operated in Azerbaijan when it was in opposition in the U.S. However, unlike their predecessor –the International Republican Institute that was financed by the ruling Republican Party and operated in Azerbaijan, their operation is not balanced. Surely, international organizations are implementing various projects on human rights, democracy and others in the countries. However, all of these activities should be carried out within mutual understanding, transparency, clear goals and objectives. Activity of any organization creating conflict in the country, disrupting the internal stability and interfering in country's affairs should be prevented. The position of Azerbaijani law enforcement bodies is understandable in this regard,” said chairman of Azerbaijani Parliament's committee on legal policy and state-building Ali Huseynli in the interview with APA.

Huseynli said that in its projects, NDI chooses the partners functioning under the influence of radical political opposition: “We also have a comparison to show them. For example, regardless of their registration, working openly and more balanced, the American Bar Association (ABA), the Agency for International Development of the US Department of State, as well as a number of US and European organizations are in partnership with both the government and opposition. Perhaps, in some cases they interfere in various issues, but are functioning transparently. Therefore, they have not faced serious problems in Azerbaijan. But NDI takes a biased position. They have implemented projects with politicized NGOs rather than independent. At the same time, these projects are not transparent. We have observed that they implemented closed and non-transparent projects with NGOs and human rights activists under the influence of radical political opposition. This is the most serious problem and NDI should make a turning point in its activity in Azerbaijan.

Ali Huseynli said that despite refutations of NDI, US embassy, there are a lot of actions that cast doubt on the transparency of the institute’s activity.

“NDI must refute these actions with serious facts. Instead of this, NDI gives emotional refutations. They always speak about constructive dialogue. Unfortunately, they give very emotional answers. I think this is not an adequate answer… We have not instituted criminal proceedings against them. We simply wanted an answer to an obscure question,” he said.

Huseynli noted that there are international organizations in the country that Azerbaijan does not need.

“But we allow them functioning as civil society needs them, and in order to preserve partnership relations with the foreigners in the process of general democratization. This is perfectly regulated by our national legislation. Therefore, if NDI does not give an adequate answer, react to Azerbaijan’s letter, statement, of course measures will be taken in line with the legislation,” he said.

To the question “Can we speak about the repeal of the registration?” chairman of the committee said:

“This is also considered. Moreover, there are more serious sanctions in the legislation. Every time before the elections we observe such activation and have adequate reaction to it. We tolerantly approach to most of these issues and do not publicize them. But when the laws of the country are seriously violated, the issue is publicized and there are reactions. As regards the interference in the upcoming presidential elections, I can say that the persons working at NDI are experienced and professional. I suppose they also have conducted their own studies and sometimes even admit that there is strong stability in Azerbaijan, President’s policy is supported by the people. Therefore, I think that interference in the presidential elections would be absurd,” he said.