http://en.mirzexezerinsesi.net/articles/2007/03/27/arif-yunusov-situation-in-azerbaijan-reminds-that-in-georgia-and-ukraine-some-time-ago en-us 40 <p> </p> <p><br /> Situation in Azerbaijan is being widely discussed, raising many questions. REGNUM has published an interview with Dr. Arif Yunusov, head of the Department of Conflict and Migration Studies at the Baku Institute for Democracy and Peace. <br /> Asked of his opinion of the crisis in Azerbaijan’s elite, Yunusov says that he would not call it a “serious crisis” of the ruling elite: “It would be more correct to say that we in Azerbaijan are finally witnessing the onset of a process that has already taken place in Georgia and Ukraine. Traditional opposition in these countries lost its leverage and authority, which spurred the struggle in the ruling elite. For both Saakashvili and Yushchenko were members of the ruling regimes. We are now watching the same process. But it is so far in the initial stage. Besides, we have to keep in mind perspective of the external forces, in this case, the Americans. For they will hardly be interested in rocking the boat in Azerbaijan like they did it in Georgia and Ukraine. Today, they are quite content with Ilham Aliyev.”</p> <p>“The difference in Azerbaijan is that we have a different opposition, that is so far just gaining momentum, but is present already. I am speaking of the Islamic opposition – not the official Islamic leaders and not the marginal leaders of the Islamic Party or the Wahhabis. The general apathy and depression, as well as the loss of faith in the traditional opposition have pushed many people to turn to Islam, even not being really believers. The process is on the way in Azerbaijan. We should not, however, forget, that a large part of the population tends to regard the Islamic factor rather as a means of protest against the existing status quo in the country. This is the protest against the steep rise of the prices, mayhem in the legal and other spheres, the Americans’ policy, and many other things. The situation in some aspects reminds that in Palestine, where the majority of the population not so much defended Hamas than opposed Fatah. Figuratively speaking, the Azerbaijani society has become disillusioned about Russia and the west, and for this reason it has started more often than not to look at Islam. In such a situation, the fight inside the ruling elite against the backdrop of the blunt impotence of the pro-western and democratic opposition merely catalyzes such moods in the society. To complement the ‘happy scene’ in Azerbaijan, Americans just have to start a war with Iran.”</p> <p><br /> (IA REGNUM)</p> Tue, 27 Mar 2007 03:08:24 -0400 urn:uuid:d4aa8f17-ba8f-42a6-8dcc-40f12f6d9589 Mirza Khazar http://en.mirzexezerinsesi.net/articles/2007/03/27/arif-yunusov-situation-in-azerbaijan-reminds-that-in-georgia-and-ukraine-some-time-ago News Current events http://en.mirzexezerinsesi.net/articles/trackback/5162