Azeri daily predicts more US pressure on authorities ahead of polls
Yeni Musavat, Baku
6 Jul 05
Excerpt from Elsad Pasasoy’s report by Azerbaijani newspaper Yeni
Musavat on 6 July headlined “Pressure on Ilham Aliyev expected to
increase” and subheaded “Sulhaddin Akbar: ‘US policy in the near past
makes us take cautious approach'”
A warning to the Azerbaijani authorities from an influential member of
the US Congress, Christopher Smith, against the falsification of the
[November parliamentary] elections can be considered yet another
indicator of Washington’s current attitude to the government of
[President] Ilham Aliyev.
To recap, Smith was one of the Congressmen who criticized the wrong
position by the USA during the 2003 [presidential] elections. Smith
then expressed his strong protest at the White House’s decision to
turn a blind eye to irregularities and the mass repression. He even
said that the rise of Islamic fundamentalism or terrorism was possible
in Azerbaijan in the wake of injustice of this kind. Smith warned the
US officials that should such terrible events happen, then they must
look for the reasons of their wrong policy on Azerbaijan.
Granted, the Azerbaijani authorities then “blacklisted” Smith and even
tried to stigmatize him as “pro-Armenian”. However, it is obvious now
that, as a result of efforts on the part of Smith and other similar
advocates of truth, democracy is again a priority in the USA’s foreign
policy. There is no doubt that President Bush’s promise of democracy
to all freedom-loving peoples and the faith that Washington will stay
loyal to its policy have encouraged the congressman to speak bluntly
with Azerbaijani MPs.
Describing fair elections as “the main condition” for a stable and
successful future of Azerbaijan, Smith openly said the following: “The
2003 elections in Azerbaijan were a far cry from international
standards. This must not be repeated.”
[Passage omitted: background information on Smith]
A deputy chairman of the Musavat Party, Sulhaddin Akbar, believes that
these statements have to be considered within the context of the
significance attached to the Azerbaijani elections by the USA, and
generally by the international community.
“This shows again that the US Congress and administration, as well as
the public, are very interested in free and fair elections in
Azerbaijan. They correctly assess the situation in the country,
especially in the wake of the 2003 elections. They understand that it
is impossible to achieve a long-lasting stability in Azerbaijan
without free and fair elections. The US government realizes that an
Azerbaijani elite which does not share the Western values may not suit
the Western interests properly. Washington definitely needs a reliable
partner in Azerbaijan who shares the Western values and interests of
Azerbaijan, especially at the moment when some very significant
regional events are expected. Therefore, the tone of statements made
by the USA, the European Union, the OSCE, the Council of Europe and
the others has become harsher,” Akbar said.
The deputy chairman believes that Smith’s message regarding the
Electoral Code is grounded. “The absence of changes to the Electoral
Code signals the real intentions of the authorities. That is, the
government is preparing not for free and fair elections, but for
another falsification. They are well aware of this and it is not too
difficult to predict the consequences,” Akbar said.
He said that he expects the pressure from the USA to increase. At the
same time, however, Sulhaddin Akbar believes that it is not right to
fall into euphoria and make unequivocal statements. “It is impossible
to say now exactly which measures will be taken because the policy
displayed by the international organizations and the USA in the near
past makes us take a cautious approach. I am a cautious optimist,” he
said.
Sulhaddin Akbar also said that there will be a resolution of the US
Congress on Azerbaijan, but did not specify the date.