Azerbaijani ambassador's article published in Washington Post

According to international observers from the OSCE and Council of Europe, the last 2008 presidential elections in Azerbaijan "marked considerable progress”, Azerbaijani Ambassador to the U.S. Yashar Aliyev said in his article titled “Azerbaijan is committed to democracy”.

The article published in the Washington Post followed in response to Fred Hiatt's article about violations during the recent presidential elections in Azerbaijan published on Feb.7.

“During the election, President Ilham Aliyev received a sufficient majority of the vote, a reflection by the public that he was the most-qualified leader to continue economic development and democratic reforms,” he said.

Azerbaijan does not play on "U.S. fears of Islamic radicalism and the U.S. need for oil," as Mr. Hiatt's commentary suggested, the article reads.

Azerbaijan has a vested interest in stability and good relations with all its friends and partners, including the United States, Aliyev said.

“As this year marks the 20th anniversary of Azeribaijan's independence from the Soviet Union, it is worth remembering that Azerbaijan has passed difficult times and emerged as a strong, self-sufficient state committed to a prosperous and democratic future for its citizens,” he said.


/Trend/