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  • US Pays Great Attention To Relations With Azerbaijan

    US PAYS GREAT ATTENTION TO RELATIONS WITH AZERBAIJAN

    ANS
    30.06.2008 13:27

    Interview of David Kramery, Deputy Assistant Secretary for European
    and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State with Mir Shahin.

    - Which one from the three South Caucasian countries do you consider
    more stable and reliable from the point of view of democracy and
    human rights - Georgia, Azerbaijan or Armenia?

    - Each of them is safe and I am going to visit the three countries this
    week. Every country is unique and each of them has specific problems.

    Besides, every country has peculiar relations with the United
    States. The common point for all these countries is that we want
    to witness more democratic development, more observance of human
    rights in them. I hold meetings with governmental officials, civil
    society and pres representatives on human rights issue in all South
    Caucasian countries. These meetings are aimed at stressing the US's
    great attention to human rights and democracy issues.

    - Before Azerbaijan, you paid a visit to Armenia. As I know, there
    was held a protest action opposite the US Embassy to Armenia that
    time. What was the action aimed at?

    - My visit to the South Caucasus began from Armenia. I saw a
    protest action while being in that country. The protestors wanted
    to draw my and my embassy colleagues' attention to the arrest of the
    editor-in-chief. I met with them, got acquainted with the problem. And
    of course, I told them the Embassy was already considering the
    issue. We are always ready to hear such people in the every country
    of the world.

    - How do you assess the situation on human rights and democracy in
    Azerbaijan, especially in pre-election period?

    - I'd like to stress that we pay a great attention to relations with
    Azerbaijan. There is a perfect cooperation between the United States
    and Azerbaijan in energy and security spheres. We are also interested
    in democracy and human rights issues and we would like to see more
    progress in these spheres. Azerbaijan has forthcoming presidential
    elections in October.

    We stress the importance of these elections for Azerbaijan. And we
    hold meetings not only with governmental bodies, but also opposition,
    media representatives, ordinary citizens. We focus on political
    processes, media freedom, supremacy of law and other issue in these
    meetings. These issues are important for not only Azerbaijan-US
    relations, but also Azerbaijan's authority in the world.

    -You will have meetings with governmental officials, NGO and media
    representatives. How reliable do you consider the information that
    you will get from those meetings?

    -We get information from different sources and put them together. We
    are not aimed to believe to that information, but to prove
    it. The important point here is that a government is not the only
    one responsible to determine democratic future of a country. Civil
    society, ordinary people, media, independent and free justice system
    as well as political opposition should take part in decision-making
    process. This is very important point for the United States.

    - Speaking about democracy and human rights issues, officials of
    the United States as well as European countries make more remarks to
    Azerbaijan. How do military conflicts affect the democracy?

    - The United States, together with other states tries to help
    settlement of Daqliq Qarabaq conflict. My colleague and OSCE Minsk
    Group co-chair Matthew Bryza deals with this issue. He visits Baku
    and other countries trying to find the way of solution. I would stress
    that presence of a conflict should not be an excuse for a country to
    fulfill its commitments on human rights and democracy. Regulation of
    a conflict eases solution of human rights issue. This is one of the
    reasons we are trying to settle Daqliq Qarabaq conflict.

    - I remembered the Gulf War. Baghdad correspondent point of Al Jazeera
    was destroyed killing one correspondent and one cameraman during the
    war. This was an accident happened as the result of war actions. In
    general, democracy is limited within a country which is in conflict
    or in war.

    -As I know, there is no state of emergency in Azerbaijan. And if
    there is any, it should not be reason for limiting human rights,
    for escaping from fulfillment of commitments. Military situation is
    much more dangerous and journalists sometimes risk their lives. And
    in some cases we grieve for dead journalists. So, it is important to
    have a peaceful situation for journalists to perform their duties.

    - The cease-fire agreement signed between Azerbaijan and Armenia in
    1994 was not aimed at development of democracy. It was concluded to
    reach quick solution of Daqliq Qarabaq conflict. And people began
    looking forward for regulation of the conflict after the agreement
    was reached. So, if we have the conflict unsettled for 14 years how
    can we speak about development of democracy in Azerbaijan?

    -I can not agree that a conflict should welcome violation of laws,
    human rights. Conflicts create danger and that is why we are trying
    to settle the conflict together with Minsk Group co-chairs. However,
    there should not be any excuse, any reason to limit human rights and
    democracy in a country.

    - Though you are not directly dealing with Daqliq Qarabaq conflict,
    I'd like to know your personal opinion. How do you see solution way
    of the conflict?

    -I see hard work of Matthew Bryza in this issue. So, he has
    something to say about that. I'm also acquainted with Daqliq Qarabaq
    conflict. But, Bryza is the best man in the Department of State to
    speak about the conflict.
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