WE ARE NOT READY FOR PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN WITH AZERBAIJAN
Lilit Poghosyan
Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on June 26, 2008
Armenia
Not Only In Armenia But Also Outside The Country
As we know in its resolution PACE in fact replicated the formulations
passed in the UN by the efforts of Turkey and Azerbaijan about "swiftly
liberating the occupied territories from Armenian forces". In response
to our questions Political Scientist Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan comments
on Strasburg "process".
"Unfortunately, as the Speaker of NKR Parliament recorded recently,
Europe and the European Structures, mildly speaking, have little
picture of the problems faced by Artsakh and between Artsakh and
Azerbaijan. I have to state that our delegation as well fails to
properly represent the essence of Karabakh conflict and to shift the
settlement process into the legal domain.
Thus, little by little Artsakh issue turns into a territorial
dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Armenian and Azerbaijani
people. Moreover, our diplomacy, our delegates lack good knowledge
of what is happening in Azerbaijan in reality. The conversation is
mainly about the members of PACE delegation.
"What do you mean?"
"I will bring one example. The resolution regarding Azerbaijan runs
that at the moment three journalists are under detention. Whereas,
yesterday, the same day when the issue of Azerbaijan was being
discussed in Strasburg the editor in chief of "Tolishi sado" (Voice
of Talish) Novruzaly Mamedov was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment,
and Responsible Secretary Elman Guliev – to 6 years’ imprisonment. Both
are charged as national traitors.
Which means not only is the freedom of speech suppressed in Azerbaijan,
but also the rights of the native minorities, in this case Talish
people.
Moreover recently 56 detainees have been released by amnesty from
which 5 were journalists. Two cases are at the moment in court, one
has been summoned to the police and severely beaten, at the moment
he is in hospital.
But the members of our delegation never speak about these facts.
Azerbaijani opposition also keeps silent because they are tools in
the hands of the ruling power. Instead of touching upon those issues
our people put forward other statements that has nothing to do with
the main topic and start disputes. That is why I have to say that we
are not ready for ideological and propaganda campaign with Azerbaijan,
not only in Armenia but also outside the country.