ADIL BAGHIROV: "SECRET OF SUCCESS OF ARMENIANS’ PROPAGANDA IS SIMPLE: THEY SPEAK OF 1915 "GENOCIDE" CONSTANTLY, EVERY DAY"
Today, Azerbaijan
April 24 2008
Day.Az interview with chief executive of USAN project Adil Baghirov.
-World Armenians mark the anniversary of what they call "the genocide"
of 1915 on April 24. How do US Armenians prepare for this event within
a year?
-You are right. Indeed throughout the whole year Armenians focus on
preparations for the day of 1915 "genocide". The Armenian diaspora
arranges numerous street rallies and protests on this day in the
United States, in particular, in front of the Turkish embassy to
the United States in Washington, in front of the Turkey’s Consulate
in Los-Angeles.
Moreover, on this day films are transmitted by US TV channels about
the Armenian version of the 1915 events in Osman Turkey, articles are
published on this topic both in the Armenian US press as well as the
overall US press, lectures and presentations are arranged with leaflets
issued on this topic in various universities of the United States.
Considering the strong Armenian diaspora in the United States, the
effect of actions on this day is very strong, considering that such
propaganda actions have been carried out by the Armenian diaspora
beginning from the 1960s.
– Is it possible to say that in the result of work carried out by
the Armenian diapora, an average American has fully agreed with the
Armenian version of the 1915 events?
-I would like to say that in fact an average American has no idea
of the details of the events, which occured in Osman Turkey nearly
a century ago. Though, we should confess, that when Armenia and
"genocide" is spoken of in the United States, this "genocide" is
regarded as one that had taken place in real. The secret of success
of this propaganda is simple: Armenians speak of "genocide" every day.
In particular, one of the leaders of Armenian diaspora in California
told me in the 1990s that the "genocide" of 1915 is a subject,
Armenians discuss during breakfact, lunch and dinner.
Practice shows that nothing of the kind is observed in case of the
Azerbaijani and Turkish diaspora groups of the United States. We
prefer to focus on positive not tragic events of the history of our
people. But practice shows that people, in particular, in the United
States attach special importance to tragic events. In the result,
the announcements about tragic events and their analysis affects the
society. Perhaps, this is the reason of success of Armenian lobby in
imposing their version of the 1915 events on the US society.
Naturally, we have made conclusions from what we have and we work to
neutralize the success of Armenian diaspora in this direction.
-Is there a hope that consolidating Azerbaijani diaspora of the
United States will manage to neutralize the effect of such propaganda
actions of the Armenian diaspora and attain similar influence in the
United States?
-You were right to mention that the Azerbaijani diaspora of the United
States is consolidating. Being in constant contact and cooperation
with the Turkish diaspora and diaspora groups of other countries
in the United States, our diaspora becomes stronger, more informed
and prepared.
Yes, we conduct numerous arrangements, expand field of our activity,
but we should not forget that Armenians have carried out such work
for already 50 years, while Azerbaijani and Turkish Diaspora groups
started to work in this direction in the early 1990s and intensified
their activity only in the late 1990s. In other words, Armenians have
an advantage in the sense of propaganda.
Despite this and despite the numeral superiority of the US Armenian
diaspora before the Azerbaijani and Turkish diaspora groups, the
facts, demonstrating the real success of our diaspora groups, do
exist at the moment. These achievements should be considered in the
context of strengthening positions of Azerbaijan and Turkey in the
world. And I am sure that this will have a positive effect. However,
this might not occur in a couple of years. We should work much to
neutralize the results of long activity of the Armenian diaspora in
the United States and to turn the balance in our favor.
-The example of the work of your organization demonstrates the
achievements, people loving Azerbaijan and living beyond its bounds,
can reach. In this connection, a question arises about the need for
such organization of the State Committee for work with Azerbaijanis,
residing abroad.
To answer this question it is necessary to take a trip to a recent
past. I think, the overall success of the Azerbaijani diaspora and
its achievements in resistance to Armenian diaspora grew after the
committee was founded. Moreover, it should be noted that each country
has its own pecularities. In particular, for the CIS countries,
such state committees and active role of the state in strengthening
positions of compatriots are crucial.
As for the United States, it is sometimes not impossible to reach
success there, as the United States is a large, multinational,
multi-religious country, where a diaspora, in this case, the
Azerbaijani diaspora should reckon on its own powers to strengthen
positions. Our diaspora has recently managed to establish ways of
work with the US community, ways of strengthening our own positions,
informing Americans about our interpretation of the events, which
occured in the modern history of Azerbaijan.
In other words, in a number of moments, the role of the Azerbaijani
state can not rival the role of Azerbaijanis, residing in the United
States, as to informing the Americans about any events in our modern
history or in the history, which Armenian diaspora of the United
States tries to interpret differently.
Therefore, we have no other way out except for basing on our own powers
and work in favor of both Azerbaijan and Azerbaijanis, residing in
the United States.