Azeri opposition leader optimistic about results of US visit
Yeni Musavat, Baku
17 Apr 05
Excerpt from an F. Mammadov report by Azerbaijani newspaper Yeni
Musavat on 17 April headlined “Isa Qambar finished his visit to the
USA” and subheaded “The visit was very successful”
The Musavat party leader, Isa Qambar, who had been visiting the USA
since 11 April holding numerous meetings at well-known research and
political centres, completed his visit yesterday. We phoned Isa bay
[mode of address] yesterday to get his comments on the results of his
meetings.
[Correspondent] Isa bay, what could you tell us about the meeting you
had at the State Department? What did you discuss at that meeting?
[Qambar] We had quite an interesting meeting with Under Secretary of
State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky and other senior officials
and discussed complex issues. We broadly discussed the situation in
Azerbaijan, the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, the upcoming elections,
etc.
[Correspondent] What do you think about the results of your meetings?
[Qambar] I have already spoken about main goals of my visit. One of
the goals was to introduce the new coalition of Azerbaijan’s
democratic forces to America’s political circles and public. I can say
that this goal was achieved.
As you know, the leader of the Democratic Party of Azerbaijan, Rasul
Quliyev, was also in Washington during my visit. He attended most of
the meetings, including the meeting at the State Department, which was
an impressive achievement. US political circles attached great
importance to the establishment of the coalition of three high-profile
opposition parties. I think this will also have an impact in the
future.
[Correspondent] What do the political circles of the USA think about
Azerbaijan’s parliamentary elections to be held in November?
[Qambar] They attach great importance to these elections. Their
current approach to [the situation in Azerbaijan] is absolutely
different from their previous attitude.
[Correspondent] Did you also discuss the processes and the wave of
revolutions in the post-Soviet countries?
[Qambar] We discussed these issues at our meetings. At most of our
meetings, they asked us if Azerbaijan was going to be the next country
to have a revolution. We also expressed our views about the processes
going on in the post-Soviet countries.
[Passage omitted: Qambar will also pay a two-day visit to London]