Euronews Presented Dictatorship In Azerbaijan As Reality: Expert

EURONEWS PRESENTED DICTATORSHIP IN AZERBAIJAN AS REALITY: EXPERT

news.am
Feb 8 2010
Armenia

Euronews journalist’s question to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
about dictatorship in the country was loaded with an accomplished
fact, head of Yerevan Center for Democracy and Peace Armen Minasyan
told the journalists on Feb. 8 commenting on Aliyev’s recent interview.

According to him, Azeri President did not refute the assessments merely
demonstrating his negative attitude towards them. "Stumped for an
answer, Aliyev gave emotional coloring to his statements, blaming the
world of groundless criticism. And all this occurs in a European state
where audience do not have literal perception of the statements that
Freedom House or Human Rights Watch etc point to in terms of massive
human rights breaches in order to pressure Azerbaijan," Minasyan added.

Minasyan deems that after this answer Euronews journalist’s questions
became more ironic, whereas Aliyev was getting more nervous giving
inadequately replies. "For instance, the journalist asked why
opposition in Azerbaijan does not stand a fair chance, whereas Aliyev’s
opponents are silenced. Azerbaijani president replied: &’Well, it’s
up to the people to decide.’ Can you imagine journalists’ reaction
when she asks about silencing her colleagues and gets answer that it
is people’s choice. Aliyev was openly mocking at her and journalist
parried whether he thinks himself a king. Despite Aliyev replied in
the negative, neither reporter, nor audience were convinced of this
answer," Minasyan concluded.