Ambassador ignores bogus charges against rights activists in Azerbai

Washington Post
Aug 24 2014

Ambassador ignores bogus charges against rights activists in Azerbaijan

The Post’s Aug. 14 editorial “A poor imitation of Russia ” was right
on, despite Azerbaijani Ambassador Elin Suleymanov’s response
[“Azerbaijan’s dissenters,” letters, Aug. 18].

The ambassador did not address the bogus charges of spying for Armenia
made against Leyla and Arif Yunus, the fact that Ms. Yunus is being
denied medicines and medical treatment or the fact that there are
dozens of other political prisoners being detained or imprisoned in
Azerbaijani jails.

Belittling the important nongovernmental diplomacy that the Yunuses
are involved in to help promote peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan
because Azerbaijan “is working through the Minsk Group to achieve
this” defies understanding. Neither Armenia nor Azerbaijan has
demonstrated a commitment to the Minsk Group framework because neither
side is prepared to make the compromises necessary to achieve the
peaceful resolution of this conflict.

Nongovernmental diplomacy efforts are an inconvenient reminder for the
Azerbaijani regime of its unwillingness to find a peaceful solution to
the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh
region. Better to have those who seek peace between Armenians and
Azerbaijanis in jail.

Richard Kauzlarich, Falls Church

The writer was ambassador to Azerbaijan from 1994 to 1997.

From: A. Papazian