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    Categories: 2017

Azerbaijani Press: Azerbaijan Newspaper Threatens West and Recognizes Political Motives for Mehman Aliyev’s Arrest

Turan Information Agency, Azerbaijani Opposition
 Sunday


Azerbaijan Newspaper Threatens West and Recognizes Political Motives
for Mehman Aliyev's Arrest



Baku / 10.09.17 / Turan: The official state newspaper Azerbaijan
published a lengthy editorial in its September 9 issue (Stereotypes of
Obama Times in USA), which announced a "slander campaign" launched by
"certain Western circles" against Baku.

In particular, the article expresses dissatisfaction with the
publications in the Western press of the investigations of the
international journalistic network OCCRP about the involvement of
Azerbaijani companies and officials in money laundering, the statement
of the US State Department representative demanding the release of the
director of the Turan news agency Mehman Aliyev, the initiative of US
Senator R. Durbin to impose sanctions in relation to persons involved
in the criminal prosecution of the journalist, and criticism of
official Baku by international human rights defender organizations.

As stated in the publication, "the Soros people and the Armenian
lobby, taking advantage of this opportunity, went over to actions to
undermine the US-Azerbaijan relations and strategic partnership".

The Azerbaijan paper complains that "official Washington still cannot
get rid of the stereotypes of the Obama era, when various lobbying
groups influenced the official policy of the state with strong
levers."

The newspaper warns that "if the anti-Azerbaijani circles and the
lobbying interests of the United States take the upper hand and the
Global Magnitsky Act applied to Russia will spread to Azerbaijan,
official Baku may review the policy of partnership with the West and
take "adequate steps."

It is recalled that despite the pressure of large regional actors,
Baku preferred a multi-vector, balanced policy and developed a
strategic partnership with the United States and the European Union.
However, as stated in the article, "sanctions and similar erroneous
steps can force official Baku to reconsider its foreign policy and
give preference to a one-sided choice." "And this will be a serious
loss for the United States and Western countries that have great
interests in the region," the article continues.

Another response of Baku, according to the editorial, may be
repressive actions against activists and journalists, which the
publication refers to as the "fifth column" (meaning traitors) and
"friends" of the West.

"Those who sanction a new campaign against Azerbaijan today, naively
believe that in this way they will be able to defend the "fifth
column" and their friends. Over the years, official Baku tried to turn
a blind eye to the tyranny of Khadija Ismail, Mehman Aliyev, Emin
Milli and other similar anti-national elements, NGOs and the Western
media network, although Baku saw that they specifically fulfilled a
well-known mission, and patiently treated them. However, when the
activities of this network began to shake the foundations of the
state, there was a need to take preventive measures, and appropriate
steps were taken. And the new demarche of the West can create a
serious basis for further deepening of these steps," the article says.

The official newspaper actually confirms the political motives for the
persecution of Mehman Aliyev. So, while according to law enforcement
agencies Aliyev is accused of committing economic crimes, the
Azerbaijan paper accuses the director of Turan news agency of an
activity "shaking the foundations of the state", without specifying
what it was.

The Azerbaijan paper's editorial was completely reprinted by many
pro-government media, which gives reason to believe that it contains
messages from official Baku. -06D--

Alex Jidarian:
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