From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Thu Oct 18 2001 - 09:11:14 EDT
AZERBAIJAN
A WEEKLY ANALYTICAL-INFORMATION BULLETIN
No: 38 (292), October 18 2001
http://www.andf-az.org/news.html
AZERBAIJAN NATIONAL DEMOCRACY FOUNDATION
Web: http://www.andf-az.org/ E-mail: andf@ulvi.baku.az
Project titled "Support for Monitoring of Civil Society Development"
Editor: Ulvi HAKIMOV
Translator: Ruhiyya JAMILLI
Authors: Farhad MAMMADOV, Mustafa HAJIBEYLI
The Azerbaijan National Democracy Foundation [ANDF] warmly congratulates the
Azerbaijani nation and readers of the Bulletin on the occasion of indispensable
national achievement of our country- the 10th anniversary of the state
independence, wish our Azerbaijan firm peace, durable democratic progress, and
prosperous future.
We are proud of building that future together with you.
ANDF staff.
#1.AZERBAIJANI INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES TO STRENGTHEN STRUGGLE AGAINST EXTREMIST
ORGANIZATIONS
American government considers Azerbaijan "a courageous state coming against
terrorism".
By Farhad MAMMADOV
#2.OPPOSITION SHOULD BE UNIFIED
There should be begun less than discussions towards defining the methods and
principles of unification.
By Mustafa HAJIBEYLI
#3.WILL THE U.S. CONGRESS LISTEN TO COLIN POWELL?
The U.S. secretary of state appealed to the congressmen in connection with the
elimination of the Article 907.
#4.THREE JOURNALISTS WERE PARDONED
Founder of the weekly "Bakinskiy Bulvar" and editor-in-chief of the "Milletin Sesi"
were released with the decree of the president.
#5. U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH CONGRATULATED THE AZERI NATION
#6.IT IS SOUTH AZERBAIJAN's TURN
Mahmudali Chohraganli, leader of the South Azerbaijan national freedom movement,
congratulated the Azerbaijani nation on the occasion of Independence Day.
#7.FORMER AZERI PRESIDENT MUTALLIBOV'S SUPPORTERS TO BE ARRESTED
According to the provided news, the arrested are charged in the accusation of high
treason with the Article 278 of the Criminal Code.
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#1.AZERBAIJANI INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES TO STRENGTHEN STRUGGLE AGAINST EXTREMIST
ORGANIZATIONS
By Farhad MAMMADOV
American government considers Azerbaijan "a courageous state coming against
terrorism".
Recently, the Azerbaijani special intelligence agencies have strengthened struggle
against missioner organizations acting in the country like various charity
organizations and societies. It is notable that the missioner organizations most of
which are protected by the Arabic powers, mainly by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have
begun coming to Azerbaijan since early 90s. While most of them are registered under
the name of charitable organizations, meanwhile they dealt with spreading Vahabism
amongst the people in the country. During the last two years, Azeri special
intelligence agencies have exposed the illegal activity of several such
organizations and expelled them from the country. The last such case happened
several days ago.
The Ministry of National Security held a search at the Baku office of the
Foundation for Revival of Islamic Heritage of Kuwait and founded radical religious
propaganda manuals, money worth over 500 thousand US dollars there. It was turned
out that those moneys were brought to Azerbaijan through illegal ways. At present,
the office of the Foundation is closed and the Ministry is holding investigation
concerning the fact. According to several news, there was also revealed evidences
on the relations of the Foundation with Usama bin Laden's "Al-Kaida" organization.
But two days ago, the MNS spread report on being arrested an illegal armed group in
Baku. The report marks that members of that group were composed of radical
Islamists and they were planning fighting in Chechnya with the order of foreign
missioners. It is notable that there already exist facts on joining several Azeri
citizens to the battles in Chechnya under the influence of extremist organizations.
One of them was died several days ago. Father of the died youth said that his son
was fallen under the influence of radical Islamists in one of the Vahabi mosques in
Baku.
Another fact confirming the strengthening of Azeri special intelligence agencies'
struggle against the international terrorists' network was being detained of an
unknown terrorist, a citizen of Egypt at the Baku airport several days ago. This
fact has caused a broad resonance both at the local and foreign media. According to
various versions, the arrested person is a member of "Islam-Jihad" organization of
Egypt. The president of Egypt Mr. Husnu Mubarek has touched on this matter in his
interview at the local media, as well and added that Azeri intelligence agencies
have arrested several dangerous terrorists until now and handed them to the
Egyptian government authorities.
The United States Ambassador to Azerbaijan Ross Wilson positively appreciates
Azerbaijan's struggle against terrorism, too. In his interview at the local media,
the Ambassador called Azerbaijan "a courageous power struggling against terrorism".
It is also known that at some point Azeri special intelligence agencies carried out
several confidential operations against the terrorist network together with their
counterparts from the U.S. In his statement the Ambassador has also stressed that
all the political forces in Azerbaijan are in the same position concerning
terrorism and this position completely satisfies America.
<=Back
#2.OPPOSITION SHOULD BE UNIFIED
By Mustafa HAJIBEYLI
There should be begun less than discussions towards defining the methods and
principles of unification.
For nearly 8 years that the democratic forces of Azerbaijan are holding struggle
against Heidar Aliev government who gained the power through revolt, towards
establishing democracy and legitimate government bodies in the country. Using only
democratic forms and methods in its struggle the opposition tries changing the
power in the country and sees elections the only mean for that purpose.
Is it possible to change the power through elections in Azerbaijan? This question
was one of the starting issues making the analysts to think over during the whole
period of Aliev's government. Total falsification of all the elections having been
held in the last 8 years caused, in some cases, suggesting pessimistic prognoses on
the perspective of democratic struggle.
Gathering more electors' votes of the Musavat party that supported by the parties
of the Democratic Congress at the last parliamentary elections showed that the
opposition is able to gain success. But the authorities rigged the elections this
time, too and it was turned out that the major problem before the democrats is
making formal and valid of the victory. In other words, the opposition must
guarantee people's struggle for their votes besides gaining more electors' votes.
There should be begun people's movement in the country and the ruling regime must
be made to recognize the real results of the elections.
At present, the positions of the democratic forces are strengthening in society and
interests of international organizations in respect to Azerbaijan are increasing.
But this factor is not sufficient in order to achieve to the mentioned question
soon. If the opposition wants to gain real success at the forthcoming presidential
elections, then this camp is to be unified. The leading figures of the opposition
should less than accept the necessity of unification, begin discussions towards
defining its methods and principles. It should be marked that on seeing the success
of the Musavat party after the last parliamentary elections several other
opposition parties were not interested in strengthening the struggle towards
announcing the real election results. The Musavat Party being faced with the danger
of remaining alone before the reaction did not use of radical steps. As a result,
the authorities could execute its plans and did not permit its major opponents to
the parliament. The political leaders who will gain success at the forthcoming
presidential elections expect such a fate.
The suggestion of opposition's unification is not a new one. Each time the
initiatives towards it faced with the resistance of separate leaders thinking only
about their own interests and functionaries coming out from the party's interests.
Nevertheless, there should be understood the necessity of rejecting individual or
party's interests in this matter.
<=Back
#3.WILL THE U.S. CONGRESS LISTEN TO COLIN POWELL?
The U.S. secretary of state appealed to the congressmen in connection with the
elimination of the Article 907.
The United States Secretary of State Mr. Colin Powell sent a letter to the U.S.
Congress and recommended the elimination of the 907th amendment to Freedom Support
Act. According to the news of the "Voice of America", in the letter is said that
the elimination of the 907th amendment is necessary for the mutual activity between
the U.S. and Azerbaijan in the struggle against terrorism.
The letter also stresses that liquidating the limitation will allow Washington to
render necessary assistance to Azerbaijan including the financial and military one.
On October 16 the House of Representatives supported the analogical decision of the
Senate by voting for the elimination of all the sanction of the United States
against Pakistan. It was known to the agency "Turan" from informative diplomatic
sources in Washington that the vice-president Richard Chaney, advisor on the
national security issues Kondoliza Rays, as well as several advisors of the
American president have appealed to the President George Bush concerning the
elimination of the Article 907. Most of the American policy-makers and experts
admit that the existence of such an amendment does not help the realization of
American policy and interests in the South Caucasus. Congressmen and senators
cooperating with the Turkish lobby are trying for the elimination of the Article
907, as well. Different societies and organizations, as well as the Assembly of
Turkey-American Circles have also joined them. In her exclusive interview to the
"Leader TV", Guler Koknar, executive director of the Assembly, informed that they
have sent a letter to the U.S. Senate in order to support the draft law presented
by the senator Sam Brownbek in connection with the elimination of the "Article
907". In her words, the United States hopes also for the support of Azerbaijan in
the struggle against the international terrorism after the September 11 terror
incidents. Koknar has stated that the situation is profitable for the liquidation
of the unjust bans against Azerbaijan.
Tahir Tagizade, first secretary of the Azerbaijani Ambassador to the United States,
has marked in his interview on the "Leader TV", that the appeal of the state
secretary Colin Powell to the Congress was a support to the senator Sam Brownbek.
In his words, the Senate will hear this question only on October 19. The
representative of the Ambassador said that he hopes 60 senators, but not 50 will
vote for the elimination of the amendment 907 in these polls.
<AzB>
<=Back
#4.THREE JOURNALISTS WERE PARDONED
Founder of the weekly "Bakinskiy Bulvar" and editor-in-chief of the "Milletin Sesi"
were released with the decree of the president.
Elmar Huseinov, founder of the weekly "Bakinskiy Bulvar", Shahbaz Khuduoglu,
editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Milletin Sesi", and Shahlar Mammadov, director of
the printing-house "Baku printing press", have been pardoned with the decree of the
President Heidar Aliev dated October 17, 2001. It is notable that the first two
were sentenced for 6 months in prison and the last for a year and half in prison.
In the decree of the president is said that those persons were arrested in the
framework of the republic's legislation. Thus, some media representatives, by
violating the legislation, are trying to prevent serious measures taken by the
government in connection with treating the moral state of society, and insulting
the honor and dignity of separate persons.
<AzB>
<=Back
#5. U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH CONGRATULATED THE AZERI NATION
The United States is ready to strengthen partnership with Azerbaijan in the
development of market and democratic reforms, is stated in the letter of the U.S.
president George Bush addressed to the Azeri president Heidar Aliev on the occasion
of the 10th anniversary of Azerbaijan's independence.
In the letter is also marked that the U.S. is ready to continue its efforts towards
"strengthening peace and stability in the Caucasus". Mr. Bush thanked to the
official Baku for the condolences on the terror act happened in the U.S.
"The importance of our partnership in the field of struggle against international
terrorism will increase in the nearest months", is stressed in the letter. At the
end, the American president congratulated the Azerbaijani nation on the occasion of
the 10th anniversary of the state independence. The information was spread by the
press secretariat of the president.
<AzB>
<=Back
#6.IT IS SOUTH AZERBAIJAN's TURN
Mahmudali Chohraganli, leader of the South Azerbaijan national freedom movement,
congratulated the Azerbaijani nation on the occasion of Independence Day.
Mahmudali Chohraganli, leader of the South Azerbaijani National Freedom Movement,
congratulated the Azerbaijani nation on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the
adoption of the Constitutional Act on Independence. In the congratulation letter
provided by the BAB [Whole Azerbaijan Union] press secretariat is said: "Azeris
were faced with the aggression of its enemies on the whole history despite of being
symbols of courage and selflessness. But it could not break their will of courage.
If we look at the world, we may see that none of the nations faced with the
aggression and oppression of savages like Azeris. None of the lands were separated
like Azerbaijan. The happy days of this nation is nearing, too. This nation can
live honored and proud, too. This giant nation is able to raise and claim their
rights". In his letter Chohraganli stated that South Azerbaijan protects financial
and moral riches of its lands, the nation is raised in South Azerbaijan, as well,
and is able to represent and be respected its national existence: "The days waited
by the Azeri nation long ago is nearing. I, as an Azeri and Azeri Turkish
nationalist, congratulate our nation on the occasion of independence of North
Azerbaijan. God bless the spirit of those self-sacrificing themselves on the way of
independence and freedom of the nation".
<AzB>
<=Back
#7.FORMER AZERI PRESIDENT MUTALLIBOV'S SUPPORTERS TO BE ARRESTED
According to the provided news, the arrested are charged in the accusation of high
treason with the Article 278 of the Criminal Code.
Recently, several supporters of the former president Mutallibov have been arrested
in Baku. Two of them were detained at the center of Baku and the rest at the suburb
villages of Baku. According to the source providing the news, those detained
outside of the capital were detained in Baku's Mashtaga village. It is notable that
in the report is said that some of the arrested persons are members of the
Committee for the protection of the former president Ayaz Mutallibov's Rights. It
is stressed that these persons are detained by the ministry of National Security
and are charged with the Article 278 [high treason] of the Criminal Code. According
to that source, some of the arrested persons have already been interrogated.
As the question is about the arrest of Mutallibov's supporters, Vahid Chiragzade,
chairman of the Central Council of the branch led by Mutallibov of the Citizen's
Unity Party, stated that those persons were not detained for supporting Ayaz
Mutallibov.
<AzB>
<=Back
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The AZERBAIJAN- weekly bulletin is published and distributed via-Internet since
September 1997 in separate Azeri, English, and Russian editions. ANDF publishes the
monthly DEMOCRACY MONITOR of the bulletin materials, articles, and analyses on the
activity of the Movement for Democracy in Azerbaijan in separate Azeri and English
versions to be distributed in the country, as well amongst the international
organizations and foreign readership. You can visit ANDF's Website and get
information and see photos about ANDF's activity, weekly bulletins and monthly
monitors, and their archives, its partners, international organizations, contacts
to local NGOs, and others on the site:
http://www.andf-az.org/
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Copyright (c) THE AZERBAIJAN BULLETIN [AzB] 2001
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