The Voice of Mirza Xazar: Category Current events

Ivan Simic: Iran & Pakistan: Terrorism States or Victims of Terrorism

Mirza Khazar — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:12:21 -0400

By Ivan Simic

For the past few months we had the “honour” to read many articles and news reports in which above countries have been described as mayor threats and terrorism/terrorist supported states without any sustainable evidence. It is not a secret that these states are facing much political and economical turbulence’s, but that does not necessary means they are the world threats.

The titles like “Pakistan Terrorism Heaven”, “Iran the Most Active Terror Sponsor”, ”Pakistan Supports Terrorism” and “Iran Worst Terror Proliferator”, among others, are very insulting and unfair as they present sovereign countries and their citizens as terrorists.

Are the attacks and accusations on these and other states work of bad journalism or maybe corrupted journalism, or both, or maybe government propaganda or failed intelligence?

Let’s take a look on some interesting facts concerning these states which are not propaganda, accusations or attacks, rather information’s available to all interested in so called “another side of the story”.

THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN

Iran, a founding member of the United Nation, has a population of over 74 million and is a home to one of the world's oldest continuous major civilizations.

Since the Iranian Revolution in 1979, Iran has been accused by a number of states, including the United States, Israel and some European countries, of funding, providing equipment, weapons, training and giving sanctuary to terrorists.

Particularly, the United States broke diplomatic ties with Iran in 1981, after the Iranian students seized the American Embassy in Tehran, where they held 53 Americans hostage for 444 days. According to the US officials, the US Government objects to Iran’s sponsorship of terrorism, its nuclear weapons ambitions, and its violations of human rights. The US Department of State lists Iran as the most active state sponsor of terrorism.

In addition, Iran has been accused of using the Ministry of Intelligence and Security to gather intelligence to plan terrorist attacks, of giving weapons and support to the Iraqi insurgency, of giving weapons and support to the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan, for murder and kidnapping of the US Colonel William Higgins in Lebanon, among other things.

We are more or less aware of accusations against Iran and current public opinion concerning Iran, but there are many things about Iran which are less known to the public.

We can sum the reasons of Iran’s isolation from the rest of the world, and Iran’s classification as a terrorist state trough Iran’s defying policy and Iran’s ties with Hezbollah. Other reasons, like links to the Islamic Jihad (Palestinian Islamic Jihad) are more or less speculations, rather than the real deal. Concerning links with Hamas, the Hamas is not politically tied to Iran and it is mostly financed from Saudi Arabia. Hamas and Iran’s connections are subjected to deeper debate.

Iran’s Defying Policy

Iran's post revolution challenges have included the imposition of embargo and suspension of diplomatic relations between Iran and the United States because of the Iran hostage crisis and other acts of terrorism that the US government and some others have accused Iran of sponsoring. To overcome foreign embargo, Iran has developed its own military industry, produced its own tanks, armoured personnel carriers, guided missiles, submarines, military vessels, radar systems, helicopters and fighter planes.

Iran's foreign policy is based on two strategic principles: to eliminate outside influences in the region and to pursue extensive diplomatic contacts with developing and non-aligned countries. The Islamic Republic of Iran accords priority to its relations with the other states in the region and with the rest of the Islamic world. Presidents of Venezuela and Iran have both described themselves on the world stage as opposed to the US imperialism. Two states regard each other as closest allies.

Iran has been accused by the United States of giving weapons and support to the Iraqi insurgency. Despite these claims, no supportive evidence has ever been made viewable to the public, and while in the past US officials made the claim that the evidence was held in Iraq's possession and it would be up to them to decide whether to reveal it or not, Iraqi officials have claimed on various occasions that no such evidence exists. Nouri Maliki, Iraqi’s Prime Minister has praised Iran for its positive and constructive stance on Iraq, including providing security and fighting terrorism.

Iran's nuclear program has become the subject of debate with the Western world due to suspicions that Iran could divert the civilian nuclear technology to a weapons program. This has led the UN Security Council to impose sanctions against Iran on select companies linked to this program.

The controversy over Iran's nuclear programs centers in particular on Iran's failure to declare sensitive enrichment and reprocessing activities to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Iran asserts that there is no legal basis for Iran's referral to the United Nations Security Council since the IAEA has not proven that previously undeclared activities had a relationship to a weapons program, and that all nuclear material in Iran (including material that may not have been declared) had been accounted for and had not been diverted to military purposes. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful,and has enriched uranium to less than 5 percent, consistent with fuel for a civilian nuclear power plant.

There are nearly 8,000 active nuclear warheads and about 23,300 total nuclear warheads in the world. Since 1945, nuclear weapons have been detonated on over two thousand occasions for testing purposes and demonstration purposes. Countries known to have detonated nuclear weapons are: the United States, the Soviet Union (Russia), the United Kingdom, France, the People's Republic of China, India, Pakistan, and North Korea. Israel is widely believed to have nuclear weapons, though it has refused to confirm or deny this. South Africa produced six nuclear weapons in the 80s, but disassembled them in the early 90s. Iran has no nuclear warheads.

The US and British officials have accused Iran of giving weapons and support to the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan. The US Time Magazine described Iran as "implacably hostile to the Taliban over that movement's extremist theology and over its killing of Afghan Shiite Muslims. In 1999, Iran almost went to war against the Taliban after its militia killed eight Iranian diplomats and a journalist after capturing a predominantly Shiite town, and has worked together with Russia to support anti-Taliban opposition forces". The Islamic government of Iran has a hard-line policy against drugs. This has often brought the government of Iran into direct conflict with the Taliban, which controls the drug trade in neighbouring Afghanistan.

Iran's new foreign policy has had a dramatic effect on its global standing. Relations with the European Union have dramatically improved to the point where Iran is a major oil exporter and trading partner for countries such as Italy, France and Germany. China, India, Sudan, Senegal, Morocco have also emerged as friends of Iran. Next to the well known relations with Venezuela, Iran has close relations with Brazil, Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador and Nicaragua.

There has also been some low-level cooperation between the US and Iran on antidrug policies, counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan in the aftermath of September 11 attack, and anti-oil-smuggling efforts in Iraq. It was said on that Iran was willing, under the right conditions, to improve its chilly relations with the US. Number of US experts, who include academics and former US ambassadors, warned against a military attack on Iran and called for unconditional negotiations with Iranian Government. Even President Barack Obama spoke directly to the Iranian people in a video saying "The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations. You have that right - but it comes with real responsibilities."

Iran now has a leading manufacture industry in the Middle East; these include fields of car-manufacture and transportation, construction materials, home appliances, food and agricultural goods, armaments, pharmaceuticals, information technology, power and petrochemicals. Iran holds 10% of the worlds proven oil reserves and 15% of its gas. It is OPEC's (the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) second largest exporter and the world's fourth oil producer. Iran ranks seventh among countries in the world with the most archeological architectural ruins and attractions from antiquity as recognized by UNESCO.

Iran is an example of a country that has made considerable advances through education and training, despite international sanctions in almost all aspects of research during the past few decades. Despite the limitations in funds, facilities, and international collaborations, Iranian scientists remain highly productive in several experimental fields as pharmacology, pharmaceutical chemistry, organic chemistry, and polymer chemistry.

Hezbollah

Iran has been widely accused of supporting and financing Hezbollah for years. The US Government estimates that Iran was giving Hezbollah about $60-$100 million per year in financial assistance but that assistance declined as other funding was secured, primarily from South America. Besides financial, Hezbollah also receives political assistance, as well as weapons and training from Iran. As of July 2009 it was reported that Iran is helping Hezbollah rebuild Lebanon.

What is Hezbollah?

Hezbollah is a Shi'a Islamist political and paramilitary organization based in Lebanon. Some western governments consider Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, some however, do not.

Hezbollah is believed to be a major provider of social services, which operate schools, hospitals, and agricultural services for thousands of Lebanese Shiites, and plays a significant force in Lebanese politics. Hezbollah holds seats in the Lebanese government, and has a radio and a satellite television-station, and programs for social development. Lebanon's new Cabinet unanimously approved a draft policy statement which secures Hezbollah's existence as an armed organization and guarantees its right to liberate or recover occupied lands. Lebanon continues to reject the US-Israeli demands that they freeze Hezbollah's bank accounts and force it stop providing social services.

Since the Supreme Leader of Iran is the ultimate clerical authority, Hezbollah's leaders have appealed to him for guidance and directives in cases when Hezbollah's collective leadership was too divided over issues and failed to reach a consensus. After the death of Iran's first Supreme Leader, Khomeini, Hezbollah's governing bodies developed a more independent role and appealed to Iran less often.

Governments disagree on Hezbollah’s status as a legitimate political entity, a terrorist group, or both. In 1999, Hezbollah was placed on the US State Department terrorism list. After Hezbollah's condemnation of the September 11 attacks, it was removed from the list, but it was later returned to the list when Dick Cheney opined that a "presumed Hezbollah operative" probably met with an Al Qaeda representative in South America in 2001.

At the urging of the US and Israel, Canada classified Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, which limits the group's ability to raise funds and travel internationally. A Canadian peace coalition called Tadamon Montreal is working to remove Hezbollah from the Terrorism list in Canada.

Australia and the UK distinguish between Hezbollah's security and political wings, and other countries like China, Russia, and member states of the European Union and the United Nations have refused the US-Israel demands to label Hezbollah a terrorist organization at all.

It appears Iran is doing the world a favour by financing Hezbollah. If not, Hezbollah would be desperate for funds, and would be engaged in numerous illegal activities to reach them.

Unfortunately, today Iran is known to the public for “bad things”; however the truth is Iran gave us so many good and useful things.

Iran is home to one of the world's oldest continuous major civilizations, with historical and urban settlements dating back to 4000 BC. Iran is a founding member of the United Nations, and host of the Tehran Conference in 1943. Persian scientists contributed to the current understanding of nature, medicine, mathematics, and philosophy. Persians made important contributions to algebra and chemistry, invented the wind-power machine, and the first distillation of alcohol. Ethanol (alcohol) was first identified by Persian alchemists Muhammad ibn Zakarīya Rāzi. Muhammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī is widely hailed as the father of algebra.

Iran is ninth country in the world capable of both producing a satellite and sending it into space from a domestically-made launcher. Iran's Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics is a UNESCO chair in biology. Stem cell research in Iran is amongst the top 10 in the world. Iran is the 7th country in production of Uranium Hexafluoride. Iran is ranked 15th in the world in nanotechnologies. Iran is the birthplace of polo,and Varzesh-e Pahlavani (traditional Martial art and a style of Wrestling). There are currently between 70-80 Iranians working for NASA, making up approximately 43% of NASA's researchers. Iran has a vast number of professors and scientist working around the world in most prestigious institutions and Universities, among others.

Terrorist attacks and mass car bombings in Iran

On January, 12, 2010, Tehran University professor, particle physics scientist Massoud Ali-Mohammadi was killed in a remote control bomb explosion in the Iranian capital and at least two people were lightly wounded in the explosion. No organization has yet reliably claimed responsibility.

On May 28, 2009, an explosion at a prominent Shi'ite Muslim mosque in the southeast Iranian city of Zahedan killed 25 people and wounded 80. On June 20, 2009, a suicide bomb reportedly explodes at the shrine of former Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, leaving 1 dead and 2 injured. In October 2009, 42 people have died in the suicide attack, in the province of Sistan-Baluchistan, and dozens more injured.

On April 12, 2008, a bomb exploded inside of the Shohada Hosseiniyeh mosque leaving 13 dead and over 200 injured. Same year, a suicide bomber belonging to the Sunni militant group Jundallah killed 4 and wounded 12 civilians.

On June 12, 2005, bombs exploded in the cities of Ahvaz and Tehran, leaving 10 dead and 80 wounded days before the Iranian presidential election. On October 15, same year, two bombs exploded at a shopping mall in Ahvaz, Khuzestan leaving 6 dead and over 100 injured. The list goes on.

Numerous civilians, including women, children, government officials, activists, intellectuals and clerics have been victims of terrorism over the course of modern Iranian history.

Therefore, the questions are: Does Iran really present threat to the world? Is Iran a victim of political or deadly terror, or both?

THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN

Pakistan has been accused by many countries like India, Poland, Bangladesh, Iran, Afghanistan, the United States and the United Kingdom of persistent involvement in terrorism in Kashmir and Afghanistan.

Pakistan has been accused by Human Rights Watch of sheltering and training the Taliban, bankrolling Taliban operations, providing diplomatic support for Taliban, arranging training for Taliban fighters, recruiting skilled and unskilled manpower to serve in Taliban armies, planning and directing offensives, providing and facilitating shipments of ammunition and fuel, and on several occasions apparently directly providing combat support. Pakistan is also said to be a haven for terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Omar, Lashkar-e-Toiba, and Sipah-e-Sahaba.

Many consider that Pakistan has been playing both sides in the US "War on Terror". The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI, the largest intelligence service in Pakistan) has often been accused of playing a role in major terrorist attacks across the world including the September 11 attacks,terrorism in Kashmir, Mumbai Train Bombings, 2005 London Bombings, Indian Parliament Attack, Varnasi bombings,Hyderabad bombing and Mumbai terror attacks. The ISI is also accused of supporting Taliban forces and recruiting and training mujahedeen to fight in Afghanistanand Kashmir. Satellite images from the US Federal Biro of Investigation and India's Research and Analysis Wing clearly suggest the existence of many terrorist camps in Pakistan.

The government of Pakistan has come under the fire for the alleged involvements in terrorist bombings in India, which killed thousands over the last decade. India alleged that the recent 2008 Mumbai attacks originated in Pakistan, and that the attackers were in touch with a Pakistani colonel and other handlers in Pakistan. In July 2009, current President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari admitted that the Pakistani government had "created and nurtured" terrorist groups to achieve its short-term foreign policy goals. In fact, the US has stated that the next attack on the US could originate in Pakistan.

Knowing this entire story about Pakistan, why did the US in 2004 recognized closer bilateral ties with Pakistan by designating Pakistan as a major non-NATO ally, making it eligible, among other things, to purchase advanced American military technology? Why did the US and Pakistan conclude the sale of F-16 aircraft in late 2006 to Pakistan Army, further reflecting their deepening strategic partnership? Why the US shelters Pakistan nuclear development and warheads, when Pakistan has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) or the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)?

If all concerning Pakistan is true, why did the fallowing countries form “Friends of Pakistan” group: Britain, France, Germany, the United States, China, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Turkey, Australia and Italy, plus the United Nations and the European Union? Why did the US congress approve $7.5 Billion non-military aid to Pakistan over the next 5 years?

Despite all this, Pakistan stands strong in international community, and it appears Iran has much to learn from Pakistan when it comes to bilateral relations with the United States.

Actually, Pakistan and Iran are much more then so called “Terrorist States”. Pakistan and Iran are two out of eleven countries classified as “the Next Eleven - N-11”. Goldman Sachs investment bank indentified the two for having a high potential of becoming the world's largest economies in the 21st century along with the BRIC’s (fast-growing developing economies) countries like Brazil, Russia, India and China.

Terrorist attacks and mass car bombings in Pakistan:

On February 5, 2010, a motorbike laden with explosives targeted a bus carrying a group of Shias to a religious festival. A second bomb exploded outside the entrance to the emergency ward of the Jinnah hospital, where the victims of the first attack were being treated. More than 33 people were killed and 170 injured. On February 3, a blast near a school hits a Pakistani Frontier Corps convoy. The attack kills several children and 3 US Marines attached as trainers to the Pakistani frontiersmen.

On January 30, 2010, a suicide bomber detonates at a checkpoint in Khar, the main town in the troubled Bajaur tribal region, killing 16 and injuring 20 people. January 23, a car bomb exploded against a Police Station in South Waziristan, killing 4 people. January 12, a rocket struck a two storey building in city of Peshawar resulting in the building collapsing. Emergency services were able to evacuate five people to hospital with various injuries but one person was reported trapped in the building as is presumed dead from the terrorist incident. January 6, a suicide bomber targeted a Pakistan army patrol in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir, killing four Pakistani soldiers and injuring eleven other soldiers. Pakistan officials blamed the attack on the Pakistani Taliban. January 3, a bomb attack hit the north-western Pakistani town of Hangu, killing a former provincial minister and two other people.

On January 1, 2010, At least 105 people died and over 100 were injured, many of them critically, when the suicide bomber blew up his sport utility vehicle filled with explosives in the middle of a crowd that had gathered to watch a volleyball game.As of 3 January 2010, it is the deadliest bombing in Pakistan since the Peshawar bombing in October 2009 when more than 110 people died.

On December 28, 2009, a suicide bomber detonates at a crowded Shia Muslim parade, killing 43 and injuring 60. December 27, a suicide bomber detonates at a checkpoint outside a local Shia Muslim gathering point in the town of Muzaffarabad, killing 5 injuring 62. December 27, Pakistan Militants blow up the house of local official Sarbraz Saddiqi, killing him, his wife and four children. December 24, a suicide bomber detonates his explosives at a checkpoint, killing 4and injuring 12. December 22, a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a press club, killing 3 and injuring 17. December 18, a suicide bomber detonates near a mosque, killing 12 and injuring 28. December 15, a bomb blast hits a market in the central Pakistani town of Dera Ghazi Khan, killing 33 and injuring 50. December 8, Suicide attackers raid an Inter-Services Intelligence office in the city, killing 12 and injuring 25. December 7, two bomb blasts ripped through a busy market as it was crammed in by shoppers. The attack, which injured some 100 people, sparked a huge blaze at the city's Moon Market. The blasts came just hours after a suicide bomber killed 10 and injured 44 people in Peshawar. December 7, two anti-Taliban tribal elders were assassinated by a remotely controlled bomb near a mosque. December 4, four gunmen attack a mosque which is frequented by current and former Pakistani military personnel, killing 38 and injuring 80. Security forces responded to the incident and a gun battle erupted, followed by three of the attackers detonating themselves. December 2, Suicide bomber detonates at entrance to Pakistani Naval HQ, killing 2 people. December 1, Pakistani government official is assassinated in a suicide bomb attack at his residence. And the list goes on.

Looking at this, we can say without doubt that Pakistan is “the world’s largest magnet for terrorist attacks”.

Just in 2009 Pakistan had around 60 terrorist attacks in which more than 1,000 people lost their lives and more than 2,400 were injured. In 2008 Pakistan had around 45 terrorist attacks in which more than 750 people lost their lives and more than 1,400 were injured. And the list of attacks continues.

Pakistan and Iran are not the only major victims of terrorist attacks. A report of terrorist incidents shows that Afghanistan, Iraq, India, Somalia, Yemen, Israel, Lebanon, Spain, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Philippines are as well major victims of terrorism.

For the end, the question is: how come the countries which are accused of supporting and protecting terrorism are in fact the main victims of terrorism?

Hollywood stars on stage for most luxury resort in Europe (Mardan Palace)

Mirza Khazar — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:09:00 -0400

Mardan Palace Hotel Antalya

ISTANBUL - Europe's most luxurious resort, Mardan Palace Hotel, owned by Russian businessman Telman Ismailov is opened in Antalya. A splendid ceremony was held and in attendance were Hollywoodcelebrities and other famous artists.

Europe’s newest and most expensive luxury resort, Mardan Palace Hotel, was unveiled over the weekend at a spectacular opening ceremony in the Mediterranean city of Antalya. The five-star Mardan palace Hotel, built by Russian businessman Telman Ismailov, was host to world famous artists and Hollywood stars for the opening extravaganza.

Ismailov, who is of Azerbaijani descent, said he had realized 20-year old dream with the $1.4 billion hotel. "I made this investment because I love Turkey so much. I have always dreamed of making such an investment in this country. Finally, I realized it," he said.

The press conference, held Saturday before the opening ceremony, was attended by Hollywood stars Sharon Stone, Richard Gere, Monica Belucci, Paris Hilton, singers Seal, Tom Jones and Mariah Carey as well as many foreign and Turkish journalists.

When a press member asked Stone and Belucci the secret of their beauty, Belucci said: "My source of inspiration is Sharon Stone." She said she came from a beautiful family, adding: "The biggest effect on my beauty is the people around me."

Stone said beauty was a matter of inner life. She said people’s life had two parts. "A face is given to you in the first part of your life. And in the second part, you get the face you deserve. Beauty is related to the way you live your life. But in life, peace and generosity is reflected on your face."

When a British press member suggested to Richard Gere that Hollywood stars should be more open about their sexual preferences, Gere said: "I think everyone should be open about their sexual preferences. For example, my brother is gay and married. He has two adopted kids."

Views about the hotel

The artists, who attended the press conference, were asked their opinions of the Mardan Palace Hotel. Belucci said she wanted to stay in the hotel for a long time but that it would not yet be possible. She said she would come to Antalya again for a long holiday.

Stone said Ismailov’s generosity could be seen in every detail of the hotel. "It is very nice that he provided such an employment opportunity in this crisis environment," she said.

Seal said it was incredible that everything in the hotel’s design was the work of Ismailov, adding that he should be congratulated. "You can see the style of the Ottoman Empire in the hotel. I really felt the golden age of the empire here. When you make an investment, you have to respect culture and preserve it. Ismailov succeeded it."

Expressing his delight to be in Turkey, Gere said: "I wish I had an opportunity to visit Turkey. I want to see this extraordinary country with my wife. I came here because Ismailov made a noteworthy donation to my foundation," he said.

After the press conference, Europe’s most luxury resort opened with a party that went on inot the late hours. Dignitaries and artists cut the ribbon together to open the hotel. Presented by Stone and Seal, the opening ceremony hosted 600 special guests. Carey, Jones and well-known Russian singer Philip Kirkorov performed concerts during the night.

Mardan Palace Hotel

With the Taurus Mountain range as a backdrop, Mardan Palace Hotel has 560 rooms, including two Royal Suites with private pools. Drawing on a Turkish heritage, the hotel’s architecture reflects distinctive landmarks of Istanbul. The main hotel resembles the Dolmabahçe Palace and bridges across the pool are based on original designs of the Da Vinci Bridge. Having the Mediterranean’s largest swimming pool, the hotel also boasts the 7,500 square meter "Mardan Spa," 17 bars and 10 a la carte restaurants that include French, Japanese, Russian, Thai and traditional Turkish cuisine.

http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/lifestyle/11716008.asp?gid=244

Technorati Tags: Azerbaijan, Mardan Palace, Antalya resort, Telman Ismailov

AZERBAIJAN: REFERENDUM MAY MARK DEMISE OF CIVIL SOCIETY

Mirza Khazar — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:34:38 -0400

EURASIA INSIGHT

Mina Muradova 3/17/09

Azerbaijani citizens will hold a constitutional referendum on March 18 that may well seal the fate of the country’s democratization process. The key amendment up for public approval concerns the lifting of presidential term limits.

In all, voters will decide on 41 amendments to 29 articles of Azerbaijan’s constitution, touching on issues ranging from the right to privacy to freedom of media. Amendments with a majority "yes" vote will be adopted, provided that 25 percent of Azerbaijan’s more than 4.9 million voters take part in the referendum.

Most domestic and international attention has focused on provision on removing presidential term limits. Critics say the amendment, if approved, will effectively guarantee that the incumbent, Ilham Aliyev, son of the late president Heydar Aliyev, will become president-for-life.

"This referendum has only one purpose . . . to perpetuate the Aliyevs’ power," declared Isa Gambar, head of the opposition Musavat Party in a March 14 meeting with voters in Sumgayit, not far from Baku. "I call on you to take a break on March 18. Do not go to the polling stations and say ’No’ to the Aliyevs and their lawlessness by this action."

In a March 16 statement, the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission, which monitors member-states’ constitutional changes, posited that the lack of restraints on President Aliyev’s current powers means that "unlimited re-election of a President is a step back, in terms of democratic achievements." Belarus is the only European presidential republic that does not limit the number of consecutive terms.

Term limits, the commission continued, are "meant to limit the risk of negative consequences for democracy arising from the fact that a same person has the possibility of occupying the presidency for an excessive period of time."

The fact that the proposed amendment poses the question in terms of extending the president’s term "during a state of war" further complicates the issue, the commission wrote. Azerbaijan officially considers itself to be at war with Armenia over the breakaway territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

One senior Yeni Azerbaijan Party parliamentarian, however, countered that the Venice Commission’s opinions carry little weight. "The Azerbaijani Constitution is being amended under transparent conditions. Azerbaijan took European countries’ constitutions into account while amending the constitution," stated Ali Huseynov, chairman of the Azerbaijani parliament’s State Institutions and Legal Policy Committee, on March 16. "We did not consider it necessary to apply to the [Council of Europe’s] Venice Commission," the APA news agency reported Huseynov as saying.

One international law expert criticized the referendum process as illegitimate. "It started one month after the presidential elections, but during the election neither the main candidate [Ilham Aliyev], nor his representatives announced their intention to amend the constitution," argued Erkin Gadirli. "It is dishonest towards voters who, as it seems, voted for a candidate who had hidden plans."

The Constitutional Court’s decision to hold the referendum was made on President Aliyev’s birthday, December 24, he continued, terming the ruling "absolutely politically motivated." The high court’s eight judges, who are presidential appointees, "became hostages of a situation that affects their independence," Gadirli said. Under the proposed amendment, the court would decide when the president’s term can be extended.

Meanwhile, both the Venice Commission and the non-governmental organization Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center have taken issue with the lack of public discourse surrounding the referendum.

The Azerbaijani public is "very little" informed about the vote, noted the EMDS Center on Mach 15; a situation that the NGO attributes to "the absence of freedoms of assembly, speech and press." Violations observed during the run-up to the referendum range from arrests of anti-referendum activists to the removal of anti-referendum posters from public places, the group said.

The Venice Commission noted that political groups have regretted "the insufficient consultation" which has taken place before the vote and "the limited" public discussion on the pros and cons of the various amendments proposed.

The lack of debate was among the reasons cited by the opposition parties and non-governmental organizations for voters to boycott the referendum, as announced on March 10. The 28-day campaign period was not adequate for disseminating any different point of view about the proposed amendments, they argued.

The government, however, is shrugging off all criticism. "The opposition does not have any alternative opinions or concrete position regarding the referendum. Therefore, they decided to boycott the referendum," stated Elnur Aslanov, head of the presidential administration’s Policy Analysis and Information Department. "It shows the opposition’s indecision and lack of scruples. Their decision will not have any impact on the results of the referendum."

Countered Lala Shovkat, leader of the Liberal Party, on March 14: "The constitution is not a suit that everyone can destroy and alter for himself."

Editor's Note: Mina Muradova is a freelance reporter based in Baku.

Posted March 17, 2009 © Eurasianet
http://www.eurasianet.org

"We must stand up to defend our Republic"

Mirza Khazar — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 09:52:51 -0500

IN THE NAME OF REPUBLIC!

The plan to kill Republic in Azerbaijan will be the crime against our nation, our history, our future! This is the new era for everyone who considers himself/herself as a patriot of Azerbaijan. We must stand up to defend our Republic. We need to launch the widest public campaign in Azerbaijan and in the world to stop this nightmare!

All this disgusting process is full of symbolic moments. They commit this crime against the Republic exactly 90 years later, when ADR leaders created first recognized democratic Republic in the Muslim world. 90 years later we are living out one of the greatest shames in our history. The Constitutional Court will adopt the most shameful decision in its history as a birthday "gift" to the President on 24th of December. Things are now much more clear than ever before!

Everyone who supports REPUBLIC must rise NOW! There is no place for "lobbying" Azerbaijani interests in USA or in Europe, when Azerbaijani interests are destroyed first in Baku. I do not want even to discuss what kind of a GIFT is all this for Armenian propaganda against Azerbaijan.

We need more than just a petition, more than just facebook, more than just yahoogroups. Government must face resistance it has never faced before! Enough is enough!

We need new public non-violent movement to campaign against this crime and we need to unite to support and to defend our Republic!

In the name of Republic!

Emin Milli

http://de-de.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=40849868285&id=42755346715&ref=nf

AZERBAIJAN: BUILDING COLLAPSE EXPOSES "CHAOS" IN BAKU’S URBAN PLANNING (EurasiaNet)

Mirza Khazar — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 13:09:00 -0400

Rovshan Ismayilov 9/06/07

The recent collapse of an apartment building in downtown Baku is fueling an increasingly acrimonious public debate in Azerbaijan about government corruption and competence.

Some 20 construction workers, all from outside Baku, were killed on August 28 when the nearly completed building on Mukhtarov Street in the capital’s Yasamal neighborhood, one of hundreds of structures erected amid a seven-year building boom, suddenly imploded, sending tons of debris crashing to the ground. The Ministry of Emergency Situations has attributed the cause of the collapse to uneven foundations and low-quality construction work.

The director and three managers of Mutefekkir Company, the firm responsible for the building, are now under arrest. On September 5, the head of the Baku city government department for apartments and cooperative buildings, which oversees such construction projects, was also taken into custody on abuse-of-power charges.

The tragedy has intensified a longstanding debate about the government’s ability to uphold construction safety standards - a critical question in this earthquake-prone city. Deputy Prime Minister Abid Sharifov, who heads a government commission looking into the building’s collapse, told reporters on August 31 that Mutefekkir Company had permits only for the building’s design, not its construction. A day earlier, Baku City Prosecutor Aziz Seidov revealed that the building’s foundation had been designed to support only nine stories. In addition, approval for the final design plan was never given.

Nonetheless, construction on the building has been underway since 2002 - a fact that is fueling public anger. A court order that year banning work on the site was later overturned by a Baku appeals court.

"You need authorization from up to 40 government bodies to begin the construction of a building in Baku. If you start construction of a garage in your courtyard without proper permission, it will be destroyed by bulldozers the next morning. How is it possible to build a 16-storey building in the city center without authorization?" commented Rauf Mirkadirov, a political columnist for the pro-opposition Zerkalo daily.

Like many other observers, Mirkadirov believes the tragedy is linked to widespread corruption in Azerbaijan. "Either the company owners paid big bribes during all these years to not be touched, or the company was backed by very high-ranking officials. There are no other ways possible," Mirkadirov said.

Government officials and pro-government politicians are more cautious. General Prosecutor Zahid Garalov told reporters on September 1 that his office "is conducting a detailed investigation of the tragedy’s causes," adding that "[i]t is too early to make conclusions." Those responsible for the event "will be punished," he insisted.

While professing to be baffled by the project’s permit-free status, Aydin Mirzazade, an MP affiliated with the governing Yeni Azerbaijan Party, also was quick to call for justice. "I believe all those who are guilty have to be punished regardless of their positions or influence."

Some construction experts, however, are calling for more -- the resignation of Baku Mayor Hajibala Abutalibov. Terming the tragedy Abutalibov’s "personal responsibility," Emil Akhundov, the former head of Baku’s main construction department, told EurasiaNet that "chaos" exists in the city’s urban planning. Companies, he alleged, do not follow construction specifications, use sub-standard materials as substitutes for those in short supply and hire untrained laborers for jobs that demand a high level of building skills. "There is no other way, but to stop all residential building in Azerbaijan until order [is] restored in this sector," he said.

Neither the city nor national government has yet responded to the criticism of Baku’s urban planning process. Authorities, however, have announced since the building collapse that an additional 74 new buildings erected in Baku have been inhabited "without the proper authorization." Eight buildings under construction (seven in Baku, one in Ganja) in Azerbaijan have entirely or partially collapsed since the start of the year, killing 40 people.

Meanwhile, even as it urges caution in drawing conclusions, the government has taken steps to show that it is responding. On August 31 a presidential decree was issued that gives additional authority to the Ministry of Emergency Situations to intervene in construction projects - a move designed to assure quality standards. The decree also confirms the Ministry of Labor’s responsibility for ensuring construction workers’ rights and workplace safety.

Compensation is also planned. On September 5, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to allocate 10,000 manats (about $11,700) to the families of workers killed in the incident. Families of injured workers will receive 3,000 manats (about $3,500).

Whether such measures will allay popular concerns remains to be seen. Ilgar Mammadov, an independent Baku-based political analyst, believes that the catastrophe is symptomatic of a broad failure of governance in Azerbaijan. To support his argument he pointed to a court decision that allowed construction to continue, despite an attempt at intervention by officials. "A representative of the Labor Ministry said [the ministry] wanted to check the existence of labor contracts ... but they were not allowed to do it. It means that the construction mafia in Azerbaijan is more powerful than executive authorities."

Meanwhile, opposition politicians are calling for the resignation of the Emergency Situations Minister Kamaleddin Heydarov, a longtime political target. Heydarov had earlier promised that his ministry, which exercises control over the quality and safety of all building construction, would keep a tighter watch on new buildings. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

The relatives of workers who died in the crash have also expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of the ministry’s recovery operations. At an August 31 protest in Baku, villagers from Archivan in the southern Astara region, home to most of the killed workers, demanded that they be allowed themselves to join the recovery effort. Five bodies are still believed to be lying under the rubble.

Orudjali Hajiyev, the deputy minister of emergency situations, has rejected the relatives’ criticism, saying that rescue team members were working with heavy machinery, and had to proceed carefully. Work at the site will be finished within a few days, he told APA news agency on September 5. "We are doing our best," he said.

With over 1,200 new buildings approved for construction since January 2007, the chances of another tragic collapse would appear to be high. Ali Kerimli, who heads the opposition Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, sarcastically noted that "the construction sector has turned into a second battlefield for the Azerbaijani people."

Editor’s Note: Rovshan Ismayilov is a freelance journalist based in Baku.

OSCE Office welcomes use of European Court of Human Rights' opinions in case against Azerbaijani journalist

Mirza Khazar — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 12:21:00 -0400

Press release BAKU, 17 July 2007 - The OSCE Office in Baku noted with satisfaction the reference to the European Court of Human Rights in yesterday's decision by the Yasamal District court to dismiss criminal defamation charges against the editor-in-chief of the opposition Azadliq (Freedom) newspaper. "If the use of the European Court of Human Rights case law becomes generalized in Azerbaijan's courts, we will witness a significant improvement in the situation of freedom of the media in the country," said Ambassador Jose-Luis Herrero, Head of the OSCE Office. "We fully encourage this trend. The European Court rulings provide the appropriate balance between protecting individual reputations and upholding freedom of expression." The court ruling emphasizes that Azerbaijan is a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights and therefore recognizes the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights. This means that the interpretation of the European Convention should be applied while considering domestic court cases. Referring to Strasbourg case law, the court concluded that "freedom of expression constitutes one of the essential foundations of a democratic society" and "that information or ideas that even offend, shock or disturb should be protected." "It is only logical that national courts apply case law of a higher jurisdiction, as it is the European Court of Human Rights, which might be called to decide on the cases at a later stage," said Ambassador Jose-Luis Herrero. The charges against Ganimat Zahid stemmed from the article "Stone Comes Across Rock" published in the Azadliq newspaper in May. The article was written based on a letter from Imishli Region Railroad Station employee to Azadlig's editorial office which alleged that the station chief was misusing State property. http://www.osce.org/baku/item_1_25654.html

Reporters Without Borders: Court to hear appeal of two journalists imprisoned for libelling president’s uncle

Mirza Khazar — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 13:27:00 -0400

Reporters Without Borders today urged the judicial authorities to reconsider the 30-month prison sentences imposed on journalists Yashar Agazadeh and Rovshan Kabirli of the daily Mukhalifat when their appeal hearing begins tomorrow. Agazadeh has been on hunger strike in prison against their conviction on 20 May of libelling the president’s uncle, Djalal Aliev, in an article linking him to possible corruption. “The laws must be amended as a matter of urgency so that journalists are no longer sentenced to jail terms that are out of all proportion to the offence,” the press freedom organisation said. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- New crackdown on opposition media Reporters Without Borders today strongly denounced a recent wave of restrictions and repression targeting Azerbaijan’s independent media and urged the authorities to restore press freedom. It said it was “very concerned” about yesterday’s assertion by the head of President Ilham Aliev’s office, Ramiz Mehdiyev, that there were normal democratic freedoms in the country and said it hoped he would quickly change his attitude and take all steps to ensure freedom of expression. “It is unthinkable that such a senior official can publicly say this when everyday facts show that the media is under pressure.” Ali Hasanov, another top Aliev aide, said while attending a conference on democracy in societies in transition yesterday that “we have an independent media and freedom of expression here. The opinion of some NGOs that there are pressures on the media in Azerbaijan is just an opinion.” He said the recent imprisonment of several journalists was justified and that growing international criticism of the government’s actions was groundless. The offices of two opposition newspapers, the Russian-language Realny Azerbaijan and the Azeri-language Gundalik Azerbaijan, were shut down by the ministry of emergency situations on 20 May, officially because of security problems with the electrical system and building-evacuation procedure. But Uzeyir Jafarov, editor of Realny Azebaijan, said it was really because of what the papers had printed. Their offices were searched and computers seized. Jafarov, who was beaten up in April after attending a controversial trial, said today it was “impossible to live and work” in Azerbaijan. He said he and five other journalists would try to make democratic countries aware of what was going on by applying for political asylum in Austria, Canada, Finland and Norway. The founder of the two papers, Eynulla Fatullayev, was imprisoned in Bayil after being sentenced on 20 April to two and a half years for supposed libel. He may now be convicted of “incitement to terrorism” under article 214 of the criminal code, though his lawyer said he had not yet been interrogated about this. His family received an anonymous phone call on 17 May warning that he would be killed if he continued to take the same positions after he was released. Two journalists of the daily Mukhalifat, Rovshan Karbili and Yashar Agazade, were also each sentenced to two and half years in prison on 20 May for an article accusing members of President Aliev’s family of corruption. Miklos Haraszti, the media freedom representative of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), yesterday deplored the crackdown and called on the government to drop all the prosecutions. Reporters Without Borders defends imprisoned journalists and press freedom throughout the world. It has nine national sections (Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland). It has representatives in Bangkok, London, New York, Tokyo and Washington. And it has more than 120 correspondents worldwide.

Azeri Radar Would Not Replace Czech Anti-Missile Site, U.S. Says

Mirza Khazar — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 02:13:00 -0400

15 June 2007 Azeri Radar Would Not Replace Czech Anti-Missile Site, U.S. Says NATO allies plan to assess missile defense systems by February 2008 By Vince Crawley USINFO Staff Writer Washington -- NATO's 26 nations have agreed to assess by February 2008 the political and military implications of planned missile- defense systems in Europe, and U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said alliance members have voiced no criticism of the U.S. portion of the plan. Gates also told reporters June 14 that an Azerbaijan radar site, proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, would complement, not replace, an anti-missile radar system the United States is negotiating to build in the Czech Republic. Gates visited Brussels, Belgium, June 14-15 for a scheduled meeting of NATO defense ministers, as well as a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council. "I was very explicit in the meeting [of the NATO-Russia Council] that we saw the Azeri radar as an additional capability, that we intended to proceed with the radar, the X-band radar in the Czech Republic," Gates said. The United States is in talks with the Polish and Czech governments to host 10 missile interceptors in Poland and a radar site in the Czech Republic to defend Europe and North America against intercontinental missiles launched from the Middle East. (See related article.) Russia has expressed concerns that the missile-defense system could upset the long-standing nuclear deterrence posture in Europe. But the United States says the proposed 10 interceptors are too few to be effective against Russia's numerous warheads. At the annual Group of Eight Summit in early June, Putin made a surprise offer of partnership with the U.S. and European missile defense system, proposing to share data from a Soviet-era air-defense radar system leased by Russia and located in Azerbaijan. Reaction to the proposal has been mixed in Azerbaijan, where some worry the radar site could be seen as too provocative for neighboring Iran. (See related article.) "I appreciated Putin's recognition of the potential missile threat from the Middle East and welcomed his proposal last week to share radar data from Azerbaijan," Gates told reporters. Throughout the Brussels meetings, Gates said he did not hear criticism by allies of U.S. anti-missile plans in Poland and the Czech Republic. "There were no criticisms by any of the NATO allies of our missile- system proposals or of our moving forward," Gates said. "There obviously is interest in trying to encourage the Russians to participate with us, to make the system complimentary to NATO short- range missile defenses." Gates said NATO and the United States would continue discussing how to make their missile-defense systems work together in a complimentary way. On June 14, NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer released a statement saying the alliance will study the possibility of "bolting" NATO and U.S. missile-defense systems together to ensure that all 26 allies are protected effectively from future threats. De Hoop Scheffer said the allies plan to assess by February 2008 the effects of U.S. anti-missile plans in Europe and how these plans can be coordinated with NATO's own anti-missile plans. "In essence, the alliance will pursue a three-track approach," de Hoop Scheffer said in the statement. The three tracks include: continue the ongoing NATO project to develop by 2010 a theater missile-defense for protecting deployed troops; assess the full implications of the U.S. system; and continue existing cooperation with Russia on theater missile defense, as well as consultation on related issues. De Hoop Scheffer stressed that missile-defense issues are based on two key principles: the "indivisibility of security" and that there cannot be "A or B" NATO members in terms of protection from missile threats. A transcript of Gates' remarks to reporters after the Brussels meeting is available on the Defense Department Web site. The full text of a NATO statement on the Brussels meeting, as well as audio and video links to meeting events, is available on the NATO Web site. (USINFO is produced by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

AZERBAIJAN: BUILDING BRIDGES FOR PRESIDENT ALIYEV'S RE-ELECTION?

Mirza Khazar — Thu, 31 May 2007 07:34:03 -0400

Mina Muradova and Khazri Bakinsky: 5/30/07

An ambitious infrastructure upgrade campaign has taken Azerbaijan by storm in recent months, but some economists point to the 2008 presidential vote as the prime reason for the state-funded building boom and question the projects’ transparency.

Infrastructure projects will account for a staggering 87 percent of this year’s government investment programs, recently revised to total $2.2 billion (1.9 billion manats), according to Oktai Ahverdiyev, chief of the Cabinet of Ministers’ finance department.

Under this plan, by the end of 2007, Azerbaijan will have five new airports – some in the remotest parts of the country. Aside from existing international airports in the western town of Ganja, Azerbaijan’s second largest metropolitan area, and the exclave of Nakhchivan (bordering Armenia and Iran), an international airport is planned for the southern town of Lenkoran, close to the Iranian border. Airports in Sheki, a popular tourist destination in northern Azerbaijan, and Zaqatala, a small nearby town, will handle smaller planes. The cost for these facilities has not been made public.

Extensive highway and bridge projects are also in the works. In 2007, the government plans to spend $500 million on the construction and repair of highways – a figure that is 80 percent higher than 2006 expenditures, APA news agency reported, citing the Ministry of Transportation. Ten new bridges and 18 underpasses are planned for Baku to lessen the city’s growing traffic congestion. In addition, repairs will be carried out on 40 bridges between Baku and the Russian border, and a new highway will be built from the Azerbaijani capital to the Iranian border.

At an opening ceremony for one of Baku’s new bridges in March, President Aliyev declared that the bridge building shows Azerbaijan’s economic muscle. “It means that we are becoming strong,” media outlets reported him as stating. The 200 million manat ($232 million) allocated for the bridges and underpasses “will not be to make a profit,” he elaborated, stressing that “[a]ll of this is done for the people’s welfare.”

Senior government official Ahverdiyev has stated that “poverty reduction” will also be included in the campaign. Planned expenditures will target improvement of “the water supply, sanitation systems, education [system] and healthcare,” Aheverdiyev told Trend news agency recently.

Some questions, however, surround the details.

"Azerbaijan’s infrastructure needs to improve, but first it should be seriously studied to define priority highways and bridges [for work], which of them can really eliminate problems with traffic jams,” argued economist Azer Mehtiyev, deputy chairman of Baku’s non-governmental Center for Economic Research. Money for these improvements has so far been allocated without such a hit list, he added.

That leaves particular questions about the viability of the five new airports, observed Zohrab Ismaylov, head of the non-governmental Center for Market Economy Assistance in Baku. "I am not sure that airports in Zaqatala or Lenkoran can give a profit even in the mid-term future," Ismaylov said. Zaqatala has a population of around 26,000 people, according to official statistics. Lenkoran’s population stands at under 50,000. Both towns are in non-industrial areas with no emphasis on exports.

Both Mekhtiyev and Ismaylov, however, contend that the large-scale investment projects have as much to do with the 2008 presidential elections as they do with infrastructure improvements.

Decisions about the infrastructure projects “come suddenly during [Aliyev’s] trips to the regions and in meetings with residents,” observed the Center for Economic Research’s Mehtiyev. “There is no clear… policy."

Mehtiyev holds that the construction projects will be used to let Aliyev show that he has met a 2003 presidential campaign promise to create 600,000 new jobs by 2008. At an April 13 speech to government ministers, Aliyev reported that 535,000 jobs – the majority allegedly permanent and outside of Baku – have been set up during his time in office.

Public tenders for the projects have also not been held, a fact that has spurred concerns that money for the projects, derived from Azerbaijan’s sizeable oil income, is being misappropriated. Mehtiyev charges that companies “close to high-level officials” act as project contractors; Ismaylov of the Center for Market Economy Assistance claims that a recent 371 million manat (about $369 million) increase in state investments was approved by parliamentarians without detailed information about the funds’ intended use.

"From the point of view of efficiency and of transparency in spending oil revenues, the construction industry is not the best sphere," Ismaylov stressed. Many construction companies are unregistered and operate wtihout paying taxes, he noted.

One pro-opposition political analyst agreed. “[Information about] implementation of these projects is closed to the public,” charged Rasim Musabekov. “It is out of public control and gives the government an opportunity to misappropriate oil revenues.”

Government officials could not be reached for commentary.

But for President Aliyev, what matters is that signs of change are beginning to appear.

“New business have opened, roads are paved, neighborhoods improved and modernized,” the Azerbaijani leader told reporters in April. “The main goal is to reduce the gap [in living standards] between urban and rural population centers. And we can achieve this.”

Editor’s Note: Mina Muradova and Khazri Bakinsky are freelance reporters in Baku.

(www.eurasianet.org)

Eurasianet: AZERBAIJAN TOPS THE CHARTS FOR NUMBER OF IMPRISONED JOURNALISTS

Mirza Khazar — Tue, 22 May 2007 19:37:37 -0400

5/22/07

The number of Azerbaijani journalists in prison has reached a record high over the past month, even while one senior government official maintains that the country’s leadership is doing everything possible to respect press freedom.

Azerbaijan currently has the highest number of arrested journalists among all of the 56 member states of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Miklos Haraszti, the organization’s special representative for media freedoms, told Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in April. As if to underscore that status, the Paris-based media rights watchdog Reporters Without Borders recently included the Azerbaijani leader on its list of so-called “Media Predators.”

Since then, the number of imprisoned journalists has risen from five to seven. Most recently, on May 16, opposition newspaper Muhalifat editor Rovshan Kebirli and correspondent Yashar Agazade were sentenced to two years and six months in prison for allegedly slandering the president’s uncle, Jalal Aliyev. The correspondent had described Jalal Aliyev as “the most corrupt person in Azerbaijan” with control of the country’s largest trading center, AMAY. Aliyev demanded evidence for the charges, which the newspaper did not provide.

International human rights and media watchdog organizations, the United States, and the European Union have repeatedly urged the Azerbaijani government to release all imprisoned journalists and to adopt legislation that would ban the criminal prosecution of media representatives.

Government officials assert that criticism of their stance on media rights is off-target. In remarks to journalists on May 3, Ali Hasanov, head of the presidential administration’s political department, asserted that “[a]fter Ilham Aliyev took office [in 2003], he solved all problems with media freedom.”

“A few facts related to some journalists cannot be equated with the situation in the country as a whole,” Hasanov added. Imprisoned journalists, however, were excluded from a May 8 parliament amnesty for prisoners granted at the suggestion of the president’s wife, parliamentarian Mehriban Aliyeva.

Reporters Without Borders appears to be in the presidential administration’s firing line. Hasanov claimed that the organization “is working under the Armenian lobby’s influence,” and has been “fighting against [Azerbaijani ally] Turkey for a long time.” Given this perceived bias, officials in Baku tend to disregard the group’s assessments.

The criticism of international organizations is unlikely to die down soon. Late on May 20, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, citing violation of fire safety standards, moved to shut down the offices of Realniy Azerbaijan and Gundelik Azerbaijan, two newspapers often critical of the Aliyev administration. The papers’ publisher and editor-in-chief, Eynulla Fatullayev, was recently sentenced to two-plus years in prison for slander. Intervention by local journalists, human rights activists and American and British diplomats stopped the closure, the pro-opposition news agency Turan reported

A rally by local journalists has been tentatively scheduled for June 14 in Baku to protest the recent imprisonments of reporters.

Perhaps the highest profile instance of press repression involves Fatullayev, who was arrested on April 20 on charges of slandering internally displaced persons from Khojali, a town in Nagorno-Karabakh. The suit was filed by Tatiana Chaladze, chairwoman of the Committee for Protection of Refugees, a Baku-based non-governmental organization. In an article entitled “Karabakh Diary,” Fatullayev published a statement by an Armenian army officer who said that Armenian forces had kept open an exit corridor for civilians during a bloodbath in 1992, remembered in Azerbaijan as the Khojali massacre. The article also reported that escapees from Khojali confirmed the existence of such a corridor. Chaladze demanded evidence that the town’s former residents had confirmed the existence of a corridor. Fatullayev was also charged for reportedly stating in an online discussion forum that chaotic Azerbaijani gunfire had killed some Khojali residents. The publisher maintains that both accusations are a political response to Realniy Azerbaijan’s sharp criticism of President Aliyev’s rule.

Helping to stir the press freedom controversy was a brutal beating of the editor of Gundelik Azerbaijan on the day of Fatullayev’s sentencing. The editor, Uzeir Jafarov, was hospitalized as a result of injuries suffered in the attack. He claims that a police officer who attended Fatullayev’s trial was among his assailants. The charge has not yet been investigated. The arrest of Sanat newspaper reporter Rafik Taghi and editor Samir Sadagtogulu focused on a similarly sensitive topic, the role of Islam. On May 4, the two received three and four-year prison sentences respectively, for the publication of a 2006 article that described Christian values as more progressive than Islamic values. Charges were brought by the general prosecutor’s office for “inflaming religious conflict.” [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

Baku analysts have trouble explaining possible reasons for the government’s apparent hard line toward journalists. The country’s opposition is weak and fragmented, they note, and the presidential elections are still a year off.

The April 27 decision to grant a broadcast license to private television and radio company ANS after months of delay is cited by Azerbaijani reporters as the only recent sign of tolerance of media outlets that diverge from the government’s viewpoint. [For details, see the Eurasia Insight archive].

Shahin Hajiyev, editor of the pro-opposition Turan news agency, which has had its own property dispute tussle with officials, sees the issue as part of a larger malaise concerning democratization. “It is not only a media problem, “commented Hajiyev. “It is a problem with the general situation with democracy in Azerbaijan.”

Editor’s Note: Rovshan Ismayilov is a freelance journalist based in Baku.

(www.eurasianet.org)