Category: 2017

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--

Armenpress News Agency , Armenia
September 8, 2017 Friday
There is no alternative to free and independent life of our faithful
people in Artsakh – Karekin ll
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS. A meeting of the religious leaders
of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia was held in the St. Daniel's
Patriarchal Monastery of Moscow (Russian Federation) on September 8,
at the invitation of His Holiness Kirill I, Patriarch of Moscow and
All Russia.
As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Mother See of
Holy Etchmiadzin, during the trilateral meeting, His Holiness Karekin
II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians conveyed his
remarks to His Holiness Kirill I, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia
and Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade. ARMENPRESS presents the
full text of the remarks.
“Your Holiness, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Dear Sheikh
ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade,
We welcome you at this regular meeting of the regional spiritual
leaders, which became possible due to the steady mediation efforts of
our spiritual brother Patriarch Kirill. Six years have passed since
our last meeting in this format, which took place in Yerevan in
November 2011, convened on the occasion of the Presidium meeting of
the CIS Interreligious Council.
In the hope of establishing peace in the lives of our peoples, we
direct our steps toward these meetings to discuss the ways through
which the spiritual leaders can contribute to the peaceful settlement
of the conflict in Karabakh.
Unfortunately, today the results of the invested efforts are not
significant, but the expectations of our people in this search for a
peaceful coexistence are much greater and substantial.
In this regard, we expect positive results from the organized meetings
of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, their Foreign Ministers,
and the negotiations process.
Despite the statements made during the meetings of the Armenian and
Azerbaijani Presidents, and the calls and messages of the spiritual
leaders, today, the ceasefire continues to be strained on the
borderline, there are still soldiers killed and sometimes also
peaceful residents of the border settlements. We find it particularly
worrying the cases of shielding behind the civilian population and
turning them into an intentional target.
Militaristic appeals and statements on increasing armament do not stop
beyond the border. All of this greatly endangers the efforts to build
an atmosphere of mutual trust and understanding, and shatters the
already fragile ceasefire, transforming a new reality of conflict
expansion which we witnessed in April 2016 when large-scale military
operations were unleashed by the Azerbaijani armed forces.
Everyone knows the chronology of those days, which was also documented
by the international community, soldiers killed in battle as well as
the tortures committed against peaceful civilians; atrocities and
violence caused losses and destruction.
Remembering these incidents, a natural question arises: how can
stability and peace of the situation be preserved when the efforts
made in that direction are unilateral. How can we achieve peace when
efforts and measures are not spared to instigate hatred and enmity
among their own population against the neighboring Armenian people in
all possible and impossible ways; and to counteract the fair and
objective assessments of the Armenian side and the international
community with unjustified accusations.
There is no alternative to peace in our region, as well as the
settlement of the conflict in Karabakh exclusively through
negotiations. There is also no alternative to the free and independent
life of our faithful people in Artsakh
It is imperative today to display will and commitment in solving the
problem solely on the negotiating platform, and prevent acts of
ceasefire violations, remove snipers from borders - to stop the
continuous firing and not become a reason for families misfortune in
ceasefire conditions; keeping the life of our military children safe.
Each bullet that is released against God's creature is also against
God.
Here we see the mission of our spiritual leaders: to exhort and
preach; together form the consciousness and the atmosphere of mutual
understanding and tolerance, under which conditions the progress of
the process of the peaceful settlement of the conflict should become
possible. At the same time, we should convey our daily appeal to our
military servants to maintain the ceasefire and avoid provocations.
We attach great importance to the role of the international community,
particularly the mission of the OSCE Minsk Group in the use of
surveillance mechanisms at the line of contact and the investigation
of border incidents. We express our gratitude to Patriarch Kirill and
the Russian Orthodox Church for the caring and mediatory efforts
displayed since the very first day of the conflict.
God is pleased with those who are walking the path of justice and
peace, because there is His love and blessing, shelter and mercy, and
as the Holy Bible states: “Butthe fruit of righteousnessin peace is
sown forthemthatmake peace” (James 3:18). Therefore, let's unite our
efforts and walk this road together. We all have a responsibility in
this process.
We offer our prayers to Almighy God and ask Him to bless the
initiatives of all individuals, non-governmental organizations, and
public organizations, which are aimed at restoring inter-ethnic
relations, and the strengthening of solidarity and a formation of the
atmosphere of mutual trust. Through the blessings of the Almighty, may
the spirit of reconciliation always prevails in the life of our people
and the world.
Thank you for this meeting”.