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Towards Bright Future Or Dark Middle Ages?

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  • Towards Bright Future Or Dark Middle Ages?

    TOWARDS BRIGHT FUTURE OR DARK MIDDLE AGES?
    by Garik Martirosyan

    Azat Artsakh
    10 Jan 09
    NKR

    The probability of the elimination of restriction on the presidential
    term in Azerbaijan creates grounds for sad and serious concerns.

    The Azerbaijani president has not yet said his "reputable" word
    - either positive or negative - regarding the constitutional
    changes. This imparts special mystery to the process.

    A question arises: do the Azerbaijani people need a constitution
    at all, if a "lifetime" president will rule that country and will
    reserve for himself the right to personally set up the government, to
    personally appoint Majlis [parliament] members and its speaker. Where
    is Azerbaijan going with those "long strides" - to a bright future
    or the dark Middle Ages? It is painful that European entities (and
    not only them), which have assumed the role of zealous protectors
    of human rights and freedoms, believe that those are exclusively
    Azerbaijan's domestic issues and continue to be guided by doubtful
    standards and their own mercenary interests.

    Azerbaijan's political and cultural elite and intelligentsia
    believe that it is impossible to ensure the country's dynamic
    development without [Azerbaijani President] Ilham Aliyev's wise
    management. Moreover, if we listen to them, there is no other leader
    like him. He is exclusive and irreplaceable.

    Not everyone in Azerbaijan like the idea of Aliyev's unlimited
    power. Baku's Zerkalo newspaper writes: "An impression has been
    established that the idea [of removing restrictions on the presidential
    term] has been favoured at the highest level and is considered to be
    a settled issue. The major indicator is that the heavy artillery -
    intelligentsia - has been used. No matter how those who favour this
    idea represent it, they cannot hide it in any way, and some even show
    clearly that we are amending the constitution to suit one person."

    Some Azerbaijani MPs misuse [the ideas of] "Azerbaijan's geopolitical
    situation" and "the failure to resolve the Karabakh conflict",
    alleging that they "require the expansion of the powers of the head of
    state". It has been even announced that the restriction of the head of
    the state's right to be elected for more than two terms contradicts
    principles of democratic elections. To be brief, there is an attempt
    to manipulate the law in accordance with the situation.

    It cannot be ruled out that this unprecedented political show will
    have a "sensational" outcome and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
    will appear to his people as the number one supporter of democratic
    and European values.
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