Asim Mollazade: "Armenian lobby organizations lead the campaign of attempt to draw a veil over Armenia's internal problems, which have become known to the whole world"

-How would you comment on the tough criticism of Azerbaijan by US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice first and US President George Bush then?

-First of all the speech of US President George Bush was not devoted to assessment of situation in Azerbaijan in separate. It dated to the World Day of Press. However, I do not think that the criticism of the US leadership is something surprising as official Washington has repeatedly made due announcements addressed to Azerbaijan.

-Do you agree that US allocation of over $3,000,000 for conduction of upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan is interference with the internal affairs of our country?

-Of course, not. The US allocation of over $3,000,000 for different programs aimed at conduction of fair and transparent elections in Azerbaijan, is also not new. The United States have allocated definite assets for all elections in Azerbaijan through various funds and organizations. Moreover, a part of allocated funds will be spent for work with government organizations. Therefore, I think it is incorrect to draw too much attention to the said traditional actions of the United States or call them the interference with the internal affairs of Azerbaijan.

-Speaking about Condoleezza Rice's announcement addressed to Azerbaijan, several local experts consider not the fact of criticism incorrect but the comparison with Armenia, where bloody events occurred. Do you agree with this statement?

-I agree that Condoleezza Rice's announcement is not a criticism of Azerbaijan. It is an attempt to draw a veil over the problems of Armenia, which became known to the world society after the recent presidential election in this country.

Though, it is well known to everyone that people were killed during the bloody events in Yerevan, over 200 representatives of Armenian opposition were arrested and the parliament deputies are currently under arrest in Armenia. Censorship and emergency state have been applied in this country. Unfortunately, the world society has not condemned these actions of the Armenian leadership. I can suggest that this is because the world community, on the whole, and the United States do not want the development of democracy in Armenia.

- But, why do you think the United States try to distract attention from the need to punish those, who committed bloodshed in Yerevan and ruined the idea of democracy in this country, to the attempt to assess situation with the level of democracy in Armenia and Azerbaijan?

-Active role is played by the Armenian lobby organizations, which lead the campaign on the attempt to draw a veil over the big problems inside Armenia, including the problems of freedom of speech, freedom of political convictions and other problems in human rights, well known to the whole world.

In this connection, I would like to remind one interesting moment: I have repeatedly asked the representatives of the Council of Europe, why the representatives of Armenian opposition and human rights organizations, which could speak of the real life in Armenia, repressions against the opponents of powers of these countries, are not invited to the hearing on the situation in Armenia. I received no response to my question. Thus, we can say that the United States, and the whole West do not want to see Armenia as a developed and democratic state. It seems that the United States and West prefer to see Armenia as an outpost state.

-There is a truth that nothing is free of charge. In other words, what can Armenia offer to the United States, as a gratitude for the policy of official Washington of carrying Armenia out of this situation in which she found herself owing to its support to separatism and territorial claims to neighbor countries?

-Nothing. Moreover, I am sure that the leadership of Armenia will further conduct policy aimed at escalation of aggression in the South Caucasus region and will not make any concessions in the negotiation process on the resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict, preferring to imitate the negotiation process. Therefore, I think that such policy towards Armenia is an ill office for the Armenian people which is doomed to stay under control of military criminals. These actions also demonstrate the weakness of not only the United States, but also all the democratic countries of the world before the Armenian lobby, whose actions contradict to the national interests of the United States.

-Do you really think that Armenian lobby is so strong that it is able to press on official Washington and the leading countries of the country?

-Certainly, it is. In particular, we have already witnessed how ethnic lobby groups conducted activities, contradicting to the national interests of the United States.

-But what should Azerbaijan do if the Armenian lobby is so influential?

-Azerbaijan should work at creation of its lobby organization and strengthen its positions in the world and be stronger.

-I would once more return to the announcements of the US leaders. Don't you think that criticism addressed to Azerbaijan before the presidential elections prove that the United States tend to criticize their results, even if ideal elections are held in our country?

-I do not think that there is a risk of such developments. I think that free and democratic elections in Azerbaijan will be highly appreciated by the United States.

-Is the possibility of free and democratic elections in Azerbaijan high?

-I think Azerbaijan has all conditions for conduction of transparent and democratic elections. Merely, a great deal of work should be done in this direction.

/Day.Az/