POLITICS
‘WE FEEL VERY ANGRY ABOUT UNFAIR STRUGGLE CONDUCTED SOMETIMES AGAINST AZERBAIJAN’
Baku, July 24 (AZERTAC). We feel very angry about the unfair struggle conducted sometimes against Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev said Thursday at a ceremony to inaugurate a new office building of the Press Council.
The President said sometimes international organizations pay special attention to Azerbaijan. Perhaps in some cases this special attention deserves praise. But sometimes this discrimination has different meaning and development of our relations with the Council of Europe demonstrates this.
The Head of State said “I am well aware of these affairs as a person directly involved in this issue and first head of the Azerbaijani delegation to Council of Europe. I can say that the unfair struggle conducted sometimes against Azerbaijan since 2001 irritates us very much. Everything must be fair. Justice is the greatest criterion.”
The President pointed out that there are some problems in the Azerbaijani society too, and we are aware of them. But the countries must be approached with single criteria.
According to the President, problems of the countries in our neighborhood are not less than we have. Sometimes a blind eye is turned to these issues, or incorrect information is issued. But any minor issue in Azerbaijan is exaggerated. As if somebody wants to damage Azerbaijan`s reputation.
President Ilham Aliyev noted “we know very well that more than 10 people were killed in Armenia with the participation of the army after the 2008 presidential elections in the country and hundreds of people including parliamentarians and journalists were arrested”. He added just a few days later certain media outlets covered these events, but both international mass media and the Council of Europe turned a blind eye to them. But international media outlets immediately cover minor issues happening in Azerbaijan which are beyond comparison with ones in Armenia. As if they want to present Azerbaijan as an anti-democratic country. This is a deliberate and unjust struggle against us. To protect Azerbaijan`s interests, we put forward our policy, our perseverance against this struggle.
The Head of State said defamation-related issues must find its solution, and necessary changes must be made to the relevant legislation.
“But we would like very much that steps be taken in countries which consider themselves as cradle of democracy.”