New kind of diplomacy: no monuments, no relations!

Looks like priorities of the Azerbaijani government in building diplomatic relations are really shifting. According to this New York Times article Azerbaijani authorities are ready to mess their foreign policy based on a statue.

Perhaps not many of you know but part of the country's diplomatic relations building skills is based on investing heavily (talking millions here) in park renovations and presenting of monuments of the late President Haydar Aliyev as "presents" that accompany the new parks.

This might have worked in other counties where public reaction was always limited or non existent but not in Mexico. Many in Mexico were left puzzled seeing the statue of an ex-KGB general placed in a park next to some well known and historical figures as Gandhi and Abraham Lincoln.

What's surprising here is however how easy apparently it is for the local Azerbaijani government to "damage" it's foreign relations- if the statue goes in Mexico, so will the diplomatic relations between the two countries. Is it that simple? Do no international political relations and rules apply any longer? Our government will really close the embassy in Mexico if the statue is removed?

But the real burning question is then how will the Azerbaijani authorities explain this "sourness" once the statue is removed. I guess we'll just have to wait and see...

Azerbaijan, Eurovision, Democracy

I just received this through OSI mailing list. Interesting and worth reading about upcoming Eurovision contest in Azerbaijan and the country's current "state-of-mind" when it comes to freedom of expression, democratic values and journalists' rights.

Azerbaijan's Euro- Vision: What Perspectives for Democracy and Human Rights?

From human rights to diaspora- whatever works to hide the truth

In a recent statement made by Novruz Mammadov, Ilham Aliyev's chief foreign policy advisor, human rights were once again dismissed and replaced by the usual cry- baby- cry statements of US supporting Armenia and only Armenia as well as going as far as mocking speech writers of Secretary of State Hilary Clinton as illiterate and in denial. 

December 10th is celebrated as the International Human Rights Day, following the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. On this occasion the Secretary of State Hilary Clinton issued an appeal in which Azerbaijan was listed as a country in need for far more improvement within the human rights framework. This sparked (nor surprisingly) much negative reaction. So much, that Azerbaijan's Chief Foreign Policy advisor Novruz Mammadov (i wonder who is in need of temper management here) reacted... well... quite negatively. 

In his remarks, Novruz Mammadov tried changing the actual point of the mock to something completely unrelated- once again the usual saga that everyone is picking on us when they shouldn't because we are a very stable, democratic, free and independent country unlike Armenia (because everything only evolves around Armenia and Azerbaijan). 

Mammadov, accused US of not even ratifying the declaration themselves, as an official document (as if respect for human rights solely depends on a signature or adoption of any kind of document). He cited Occupy Movement as an example (which if he followed news closely have created a lot of public domestic debate in the US within the fair/unfair treatment debate). 

In a counter statement in support of the speech made by the Secretary of State, Azerbaijani- Americans for Democracy (AZAD) "issued a press release" whereby expressing their gratitude and urging US continue pressing Azerbaijan for its poor record on human rights (not to mention freedom of expression, religion and more). Here is a brief statement from their press release:

Unfortunately, these officials did not provide any explanation for their government's blatant disrespect towards the basic rights and freedoms of Azerbaijani citizens enshrined in the country's constitution and Azerbaijan's international obligations. Instead, they once again repeated the old propaganda [...] shamefully hiding behind Azerbaijan's refugees and the occupied territories as if that tragedy in any way can justify the oppression the Aliyev regime inflicts on the Azerbaijani people.

There are many things that are not stable, not democratic and not free in Azerbaijan. Human rights are only one of these. And indeed, we have a long way to go to change this. There is no need to hide behind the facades of energy resources or consequences of war because hiding won't solve the problem but only make it bigger and durable. The longer Azerbaijani government continues to ignore the realities of present day Azerbaijan, the longer Azerbaijan will be criticized by other institutions and countries on its poor record for many indicators (after all, one cannot buy every single official in every single country or institution). It is too late to hide the truth, but its not too late to face up and do something about it. I am just wondering when this glorious day will finally come to Azerbaijan...

Protect and safeguard or beat and shout?

On the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan it reads:

Police is the brave organ standing on guard of state and people of Azerbaijan with great fighting spirit (Heydar Aliyev)

The fighting spirit is no doubt questionable. Azerbaijani police is always high spirited when it comes to beating up people, arresting them, falsifying charges, shouting, taking bribes and what not... Its bravery is too visible everywhere. Its when it comes to "standing on guard of people of Azerbaijan" that doubts start popping up here and there. Or maybe there are some new standards that we don't know yet? Like arresting a child and her mother as they cross the street and yell "Istefa" (resignation) and "Azadliq" (freedom).

The video below is from today protests (17 April 2011) and shows pretty much how a mother and her child got arrested.