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  • BAKU: Ukraine events to affect ex-Soviet countries soon - Opp.

    Ukraine events to affect ex-Soviet countries soon - Azeri opposition leader

    Yeni Musavat, Baku
    28 Dec 04


    The leader of Azerbaijan's major opposition Musavat Party, Isa Qambar,
    has said the effects of the Ukrainian events are already noticeable in
    post-Soviet countries, including Azerbaijan. Qambar told the
    opposition Yeni Musavat newspaper that Viktor Yushchenko's victory in
    Ukraine has boosted the activity of democratic forces in post-Soviet
    countries, which worries authoritarian regimes. Qambar added that the
    effects of the Ukrainian elections will grow day by day and yield
    positive results. The following is an excerpt from Konul Samilqizi's
    report by Azerbaijani newspaper Yeni Musavat on 28 December headlined
    "The Ukrainian events are already yielding results" and subheaded "Isa
    Qambar: 'This process is going on slowly in Azerbaijan, but one can
    already notice it'". Subheadings have been inserted editorially:

    The Ukrainian democrats have won the re-run of the second round of the
    presidential elections. As a matter of fact, it would be more correct
    to view this as a confirmation of the 31 October and 21 November
    victories, which an attempt was made to steal, rather than a new
    victory. Because Viktor Yushchenko, leader of the Our Ukraine election
    bloc, had clearly won both the first round and the first run of the
    second round. But it took him up to two months to confirm his victory,
    which became possible after a serious struggle.

    The Azerbaijani democrats were among those delighted by this
    victory. And the Our Azerbaijan bloc was double happy, because it was
    the Our Ukraine bloc, an ally of the Our Azerbaijan bloc, and Viktor
    Yushchenko who won the elections. We asked Isa Qambar, leader of the
    Our Azerbaijan bloc and Musavat Party, to comment on this important
    event.

    "Two months not a waste of time"

    [Correspondent] It would not be that right to assess the results of
    the 26 December re-run of the second round of the elections as a
    victory. Because your ally had won the elections far before that. So
    we think that this is more a confirmation of the victory rather than a
    new victory. How would you comment on this?

    [Qambar] You are absolutely right. In fact, Yushchenko was elected
    president on 31 October. This victory was confirmed during the
    following two months. But these two months cannot be viewed as a waste
    of time. On the contrary, it was a very important period. First,
    Yushchenko became Ukrainian leader - a more trusted person than a
    merely elected president. This trust will enable him to solve
    Ukraine's problems, make strong decisions about the country's
    development and carry out the necessary reforms.

    Second, the Ukrainian people proved in these two months that they are
    able to meet the requirements of the 21st century and that they can
    have their own place in the modern world. And this will help Ukraine
    integrate into the European Union and NATO. In principle, these two
    months proved once again that even the most ruthless authoritarian
    police regimes can turn into a democracy peacefully and one can come
    to power in those countries by free and fair elections. On the one
    hand, people have to be resolute and selfless to achieve this. On the
    other, the international community has to take a fundamental position
    and demonstrate loyalty to its own values and ideas. And this was the
    case. From this point of view, these two months should be valued
    highly.

    [Correspondent] This process was particularly important for you, as
    the Ukrainian democrats - your allies - emerged victorious. How do you
    feel about it?

    [Qambar] Of course, the success of people we know, our friends and
    very honourable people, cannot but delight us. For us, it is good news
    that the leader of the Our Ukraine bloc, which is an ally of the Our
    Azerbaijan bloc, came to power in an important country like Ukraine. I
    believe that this will help further improve relations between the
    democratic forces of Ukraine and Azerbaijan, as well as relations
    between Azerbaijan and Ukraine, which are strategic partners.

    [Correspondent] How are the democrats, who are in power in Ukraine now
    and in opposition in Azerbaijan, going to establish relations? What is
    the aim of the agreement signed between the Our Ukraine and Our
    Azerbaijan blocs? How will this document work at this moment?

    [Qambar] I see no need to fuss about this issue. Of course, we will
    continue our meetings and talks. We will also discuss how to continue
    our cooperation under these circumstances. But relations between our
    peoples and states are more important for us. We think that relations
    between these peoples and states should develop no matter who is in
    power in Ukraine and Azerbaijan.

    Effects already noticeable

    [Correspondent] As the Ukrainian democrats have confirmed their
    victory, I will put this question explicitly: What specific effects
    can the victory of democracy in Ukraine have on post-Soviet countries,
    including Azerbaijan?

    [Qambar] Time will show what kind of direct effects these processes
    will have. But in general, they proved once again that passage to
    democracy is theoretically possible at this stage.

    Second, the plan of some circles in Moscow to establish an alliance
    with the surrounding countries based on authoritarian rule has
    failed. Ukraine was the most important part of this plan. One can
    unequivocally regard this plan as a fiasco since it failed in
    Ukraine. And this will have positive effects. The Ukrainian events
    have started affecting Azerbaijan and all post-Soviet countries. The
    fact that democratic forces have become more resourceful, anxiety
    within the authoritarian regimes and the fact that the peoples of
    these countries have begun looking at the issue through a different
    prism are the results of this direct impact. This impact will grow day
    by day and yield results.

    [Correspondent] Is the Ukrainian process the only factor that
    supplements the resolve of the democratic forces in Azerbaijan and
    other post-Soviet countries or are there any specific reports about
    this? The talk is about the West's fundamental decision to turn
    Azerbaijan into a democracy. There have been reports that the USA has
    decided to turn Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus and Moldova into
    democracies.

    [Qambar] One should consider the events in a broader context. It would
    not be right to take the events out of context. And the Ukrainian
    events are a very important reflection of this broader context.

    First, Azerbaijani society is gradually recovering from the damage
    inflicted by the rigged 2003 presidential elections and repression
    against the people. Society is trying to look to the future with hope
    again. Positive trends are obvious. Although this process is going on
    slowly, one can already notice it. The most difficult year is
    over. On the other hand, international processes and the fact that the
    international community has begun reconsidering these issues are also
    obvious.

    I believe that the failure of the Ilham Aliyev project on the one
    hand, his failure to conduct reforms in Azerbaijan over the past year,
    and on the other, the fact that it has been proved that democratic
    changes are possible when the international community is united have
    led to changes in the approach of the international community to these
    issues. And this is quite obvious. All these factors affect these
    issues and will also continue to affect them in the future.

    [Passage omitted: Qambar says the main tasks facing Azerbaijan's
    democratic forces will be making changes to the election code,
    changing the principles of forming election commissions and helping
    boost the people's trust in democracy]
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