"The key to the prosperity of Azerbaijan is the maximal respect towards independent voices": Thomas Melia

• 01.18.2015, 01:36
•  America,  Region,  World

On January 12 hearings on human rights situation in Washington took place. The participants of the debate shared the view that the US will continue supporting independent voices and at the same time will not stop trying to improve its relations with the Azerbaijani authorities, reports Minval.az.

As Novostnik.ru informs, the debates were organized by National Endowment for Democracy (NED) under the title "The Suppression of Independent Voices in Azerbaijan". Among the participants of the debate were the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy and Human Rights Thomas Melia; professor at Baku State University Altai Geyushev; the head of projects on Russia and Eurasia in NED Miriam Lansky; the head of the Azerbaijani service of "Radio Liberty" Kanan Aliyev.

In his speech Thomas Melia said that it is important that their partners in the Azerbaijani Government understand what the interests of the US are. "We want stability and prosperity for Azerbaijan and we think that the key to that is the maximal respect towards independent voices and letting them do what they usually do in the modern society", - said Thomas Melia, reports Minval.az. Referring to the situation over the closure of "Azadlig" Radio, Melia mentioned that Washington will not stop supporting the radio Station and will do that "as much as possible".

The head of the Azerbaijani service of "Azadlig"("Radio Liberty") Kanan Aliyev in his turn reminded that it is for a long time the Azerbaijani Government is persecuting international media and NGOs trying to fully control the media of the country. "Recently, the Azerbaijani Government has in fact kicked out from the country such American organizations like IREX, NDI, the Peace Corps, etc.", - said Kanan Aliyev.

Another speaker, the professor at Baku State University Altai Geyushev, noted that that these things have happened under Azerbaijan's Chairmanship in the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers. "Before becoming the Council of Europe member, Azerbaijan was more democratic and its membership did not change Azerbaijan, just visa versa, the authorities of Azerbaijan changed the Council of Europe", - as Novostnik.ru reports, said Altai Geyushev.

Miriam Lansky, the head of projects on Russia and Eurasia in NED, noted that in Azerbaijan criminal cases are being fabricated to put journalists, human right advocates and lawyers into jails. "There are about 100 political prisoners and their number continues growing. The country itself is among those of Uzbekistan in terms of freedom. If we look at the data received from Freedom House on Azerbaijan at the end of 90s, then the country was in the same line with Georgia and Azerbaijan, but now Azerbaijan goes down", - mentioned Lansky.

This debate is not something extraordinary, but there are special points one should pay attention. The presence of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy and Human Rights in US Thomas Melia shows that the US is really concerned about the situation in Azerbaijan. This means that anything that was said by Melia, any criticism expressed by him can be considered as the criticism by the US. Whether this would change anything in Azerbaijan or not, is a big question, but the fact that such kind of hearing with the participation of such people enumerated above, took place, means that the world is slowly starting to see and realize what is going on in Azerbaijan.