Azerbaijan - Internal Political Affairs

[Armanen]

Re: Azerbaijan - Internal Political Affairs

In the past month there have been about 3 or 4 high level visits between Armenian and Iranian officials. So this could be an azeri response to that, we shouldn't always assume that Armenia acts defensively on the diplomatic front too, especially in the Post-Protocol period.

As Fed said, arms sales are likely what the meeting is about. And maybe mossad will have a chance to convince and/or steal the identity of azeri joos so as to use them in other assassinations.

[ninetoyadome]

Re: Azerbaijan - Internal Political Affairs

Israel unveils new drone fleet that can reach Iran

AP – A visitor looks at an Israeli air force unmanned plane in the Tel Nof base, central Israel, Sunday, …

TEL NOF AIR FORCE BASE, Israel – Israel's air force on Sunday introduced a fleet of huge pilotless planes that can remain in the air for a full day and could fly as far as the Persian Gulf, putting rival Iran within its range.
The Heron TP drones have a wingspan of 86 feet (26 meters), making them the size of Boeing 737 passenger jets and the largest unmanned aircraft in Israel's military. The planes can fly at least 20 consecutive hours and are primarily used for surveillance and carrying diverse payloads.
At the fleet's inauguration ceremony at a sprawling air base in central Israel, the drone dwarfed an F-15 fighter jet parked beside it. The unmanned plane resembles its predecessor, the Heron, but can fly higher, reaching an altitude of more than 40,000 feet (12,000 meters), and remain in the air longer.
"With the inauguration of the Heron TP, we are realizing the air force's dream," said Brig. Gen. Amikam Norkin, commander of the base that will operate the drones. "The Heron TP is a technological and operational breakthrough."
The commander of Israel's air force, Maj. Gen. Ido Nehushtan, said the aircraft "has the potential to be able to conduct new missions down the line as they become relevant."
Israel's military refused to say how large the new fleet is or whether the planes were designed for use against Iran, but stressed it was versatile and could adapt to new missions. The plane's maker, state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries, has said it is capable of reaching the Persian Gulf, which would put Iran within its range.
Israeli defense officials said the Heron TP could be a useful tool against Iran. It could provide surveillance, jam enemy communications and connect ground control and manned air force planes.
The officials requested anonymity because they were discussing sensitive military technology.
Israel considers Iran a strategic threat because of its nuclear program, long-range missiles and repeated references by its leaders to the xxxish state's destruction.
Israel has hinted at the possibility of a military strike against Iran if world pressure does not halt Tehran's nuclear program. Israel and the U.S. believe Iran is trying to build nuclear weapons; Iran says its program is for peaceful purposes.
In past conflicts, various types and sizes of unmanned planes have been used in missions like long-range surveillance and attacking enemy targets with guided missiles in conflicts like Iraq and Afghanistan, where anti-aircraft systems are rudimentary.
They have proven much less successful in conflicts where the opponents possessed better anti-aircraft weapons.
During NATO's aerial onslaught against Serbia in 1999, for example, Serbian quickly forces shot down 42 U.S. drones, drastically reducing the effectiveness of the bombing campaign.
"We are aware of the dangers such an aircraft can meet in the battlefield, and we do whatever we can to protect it," said air force Lt. Col. Eyal.
Eyal, whose last name was not disclosed in line with military guidelines, would not comment on how the plane could protect itself from anti-aircraft systems.
Israeli defense analyst Shlomo Brom, a retired general and security expert at Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Security Studies, called the new drone a breakthrough.
"Its staying power and the height it can reach means it is able to cover ground continuously and it is able to cover large territory," he said.
Israel's military was the first to make widespread use of drones in its 1982 invasion of Lebanon, according to Mark Daly, an expert on unmanned aircraft at Jane's defense publications in London.
Israeli companies are considered world leaders in drone technology and now export unmanned aircraft to a number of armies, including U.S.-led forces that have used them in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Heron TP has been in development for about a decade, but the aircraft first saw action during Israel's offensive against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip just over a year ago.
Drones were seen as crucial to the Gaza onslaught by giving soldiers eyes in the air, keeping watch over rooftops and alleyways in congested urban areas — notifying troops of threats or obstacles in their path.
Palestinian witnesses have long claimed that Israeli drones fire missiles in Gaza, both before and during the Israeli offensive. Israel has never confirmed that its unmanned aircraft are capable of firing missiles.
The military says the huge new drone will give an added element to Israel's ability to control its borders.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100221/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_drones

Azerbaijan has the old unmanned planes right? If so then like the article says if the country has good anti-air then those planes are basically useless. Do you guys think Azerbaijan is talking with Israel about these new unmanned planes?

[ninetoyadome]

Re: Azerbaijan - Internal Political Affairs

Azerbaijan must compensate $100 billion, says Ayvazian

“The liberated territories around the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic belong to the people of Artsakh and cannot be considered as a compensation for Armenians, who born in Azerbaijan,” told journalists Director of Assembly of Armenians of Azerbaijan, Grigory Ayvazian.

“The issue of territories must be solved at the state level. As for Armenian community of Azerbaijan, we don’t think it is the best solution to settle them on these territories,” he said adding that these territories do not belong to Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan is under obligation to compensate for the damage to Armenians of Azerbaijan, said Grigory Ayvazian. He added: “As for money, compensations for property stand by $70 billion. Sure, it’s impossible to go without compensation for moral damage. This is totally $100 billion.”


26.02.2010, 19:00

Aysor.am

[hipeter924]

Re: Azerbaijan - Internal Political Affairs

Azerbaijan must compensate $100 billion, says Ayvazian

“The liberated territories around the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic belong to the people of Artsakh and cannot be considered as a compensation for Armenians, who born in Azerbaijan,” told journalists Director of Assembly of Armenians of Azerbaijan, Grigory Ayvazian.

“The issue of territories must be solved at the state level. As for Armenian community of Azerbaijan, we don’t think it is the best solution to settle them on these territories,” he said adding that these territories do not belong to Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan is under obligation to compensate for the damage to Armenians of Azerbaijan, said Grigory Ayvazian. He added: “As for money, compensations for property stand by $70 billion. Sure, it’s impossible to go without compensation for moral damage. This is totally $100 billion.”


26.02.2010, 19:00

Aysor.am

How will this happen, you would have to take it by force; as they would never give it up. The dictator only rules Azeri's for the cash, so do you think he would give it up because he cares about other people?

[Haykakan]

Re: Azerbaijan - Internal Political Affairs

Israel unveils new drone fleet that can reach Iran

AP – A visitor looks at an Israeli air force unmanned plane in the Tel Nof base, central Israel, Sunday, …

TEL NOF AIR FORCE BASE, Israel – Israel's air force on Sunday introduced a fleet of huge pilotless planes that can remain in the air for a full day and could fly as far as the Persian Gulf, putting rival Iran within its range.
The Heron TP drones have a wingspan of 86 feet (26 meters), making them the size of Boeing 737 passenger jets and the largest unmanned aircraft in Israel's military. The planes can fly at least 20 consecutive hours and are primarily used for surveillance and carrying diverse payloads.
At the fleet's inauguration ceremony at a sprawling air base in central Israel, the drone dwarfed an F-15 fighter jet parked beside it. The unmanned plane resembles its predecessor, the Heron, but can fly higher, reaching an altitude of more than 40,000 feet (12,000 meters), and remain in the air longer.
"With the inauguration of the Heron TP, we are realizing the air force's dream," said Brig. Gen. Amikam Norkin, commander of the base that will operate the drones. "The Heron TP is a technological and operational breakthrough."
The commander of Israel's air force, Maj. Gen. Ido Nehushtan, said the aircraft "has the potential to be able to conduct new missions down the line as they become relevant."
Israel's military refused to say how large the new fleet is or whether the planes were designed for use against Iran, but stressed it was versatile and could adapt to new missions. The plane's maker, state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries, has said it is capable of reaching the Persian Gulf, which would put Iran within its range.
Israeli defense officials said the Heron TP could be a useful tool against Iran. It could provide surveillance, jam enemy communications and connect ground control and manned air force planes.
The officials requested anonymity because they were discussing sensitive military technology.
Israel considers Iran a strategic threat because of its nuclear program, long-range missiles and repeated references by its leaders to the xxxish state's destruction.
Israel has hinted at the possibility of a military strike against Iran if world pressure does not halt Tehran's nuclear program. Israel and the U.S. believe Iran is trying to build nuclear weapons; Iran says its program is for peaceful purposes.
In past conflicts, various types and sizes of unmanned planes have been used in missions like long-range surveillance and attacking enemy targets with guided missiles in conflicts like Iraq and Afghanistan, where anti-aircraft systems are rudimentary.
They have proven much less successful in conflicts where the opponents possessed better anti-aircraft weapons.
During NATO's aerial onslaught against Serbia in 1999, for example, Serbian quickly forces shot down 42 U.S. drones, drastically reducing the effectiveness of the bombing campaign.
"We are aware of the dangers such an aircraft can meet in the battlefield, and we do whatever we can to protect it," said air force Lt. Col. Eyal.
Eyal, whose last name was not disclosed in line with military guidelines, would not comment on how the plane could protect itself from anti-aircraft systems.
Israeli defense analyst Shlomo Brom, a retired general and security expert at Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Security Studies, called the new drone a breakthrough.
"Its staying power and the height it can reach means it is able to cover ground continuously and it is able to cover large territory," he said.
Israel's military was the first to make widespread use of drones in its 1982 invasion of Lebanon, according to Mark Daly, an expert on unmanned aircraft at Jane's defense publications in London.
Israeli companies are considered world leaders in drone technology and now export unmanned aircraft to a number of armies, including U.S.-led forces that have used them in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Heron TP has been in development for about a decade, but the aircraft first saw action during Israel's offensive against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip just over a year ago.
Drones were seen as crucial to the Gaza onslaught by giving soldiers eyes in the air, keeping watch over rooftops and alleyways in congested urban areas — notifying troops of threats or obstacles in their path.
Palestinian witnesses have long claimed that Israeli drones fire missiles in Gaza, both before and during the Israeli offensive. Israel has never confirmed that its unmanned aircraft are capable of firing missiles.
The military says the huge new drone will give an added element to Israel's ability to control its borders.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100221/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_drones

Azerbaijan has the old unmanned planes right? If so then like the article says if the country has good anti-air then those planes are basically useless. Do you guys think Azerbaijan is talking with Israel about these new unmanned planes?

Those drones are not useless and they now represent a real threat to us. The sophisticated air defence shield over Armenia installed by the russians does not cover Artsagh. Even if we had the best anti air defence in Artsagh, the fact that they are selling weapons to those who want us dead is reason enough to worry. Those drones do pose a real threat to our people and Armenia needs to take into account that they come from Isreal.

[ninetoyadome]

Re: Azerbaijan - Internal Political Affairs

No one wants war - Azerbaijani president
Mon 01 March 2010 | 05:55 GMT Text size:


Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Aliyev has said that Azerbaijan does not want war, but cannot tolerate the occupationof its land by Armenia.

Addressing selected representatives of the public during a visit to Gabala District on Saturday, Aliyev said that the Azerbaijani government lent great importance to improving the housing and job prospects of IDPs. “The State Program to Development the Regions is under way and in the first phase all the problems of those citizens living in difficult conditions have been tackled. Today there are no IDPs and refugees living in tents in Azerbaijan. Now, the problems of other refugees living in buildings unfit for habitation will be our focus. This process is happening in Gabala. We are carrying out these improvements in various parts of our country. Multi-storey buildings for IDPs and refugees are being constructed in Baku and other regional centres. Living conditions in these houses are very comfortable and I believe you’ll have better lives. But the main point today is that you should be able to return to your homes. This is our key concern.”

The president said that the Khojaly massacre would never fade from memory. “All the world community has recognized this as a grave crime against humanity. Our efforts, with the support of the Azerbaijani government, public and diaspora organizations, young people, students studying abroad, have brought this crime to the attention of the world community. Though Armenians strived to hide the realities of this grave crime through their strong diaspora, they failed. Misrepresenting the facts of the Khojaly Genocide they tried to veil their brutality against the Azerbaijani people. But today, all the world community is aware of the realities of this crime.”

Ilham Aliyev said that those responsible for the crime would be prosecuted. “I firmly believe that all the criminals, their supporters whose hands are stained with the blood of the Azerbaijani people will be punished."

Touching on the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, the president said that Azerbaijan would continue its efforts. "We are striving and have to strive to achieve the comprehensive development of our country and strengthen our position in the talks and the conflict with Armenia. International law supports our position. International organizations back a resolution on the basis of territorial integrity and the norms of international law. There are numerous international documents that confirm this. Despite this, the issue has not been resolved. Because the opposing side, Armenia, wants to drag out the resolution. It wants to maintain the status quo and wants to legalize the situation as it is now. We will never allow this. We will continue our policy and diplomatic efforts in the desired fashion. The issue is on the agenda of international organizations and in bilateral relations."

Aliyev said that the Armenian lobby had fallen into the hands of conmen and corrupt politicians. "Paying money and delivering them benefits, the Armenian lobby is trying to strengthen its position. We are for a fair solution of the problem, according to international law. We have no territorial claims on any state. Though today’s Armenia was built on Azerbaijani territory. Despite this fact, we have no such territorial claims. We want our historically and internationally recognized lands to be freed and our citizens returned to their homes. We are being told that the problem must be solved peacefully. This is what we also support. But no one must forget that the Armenians occupied these lands in military ways, not peacefully. Though 20 years have passed, everyone must remember this bloody night. All the citizens of Azerbaijan, especially the younger generation must always remember this crime against our people. If Armenia acted in a violent way against us, then why does everybody recommend that we solve this problem peacefully? I’d like to reiterate that no one wants war. Who wants war? How much longer should we wait for the world community and the sides involved in this issue to solve this problem? We must not submit to this situation. The status quo doesn’t suit us. The status quo must be changed in a fair way. Armenians must unconditionally withdraw from our lands. And only after that should cooperation and peace be established. This is our key position. This issue must find its solution within the territorial integrity of the Azerbaijan Republic. The latest processes show that those who are strong are always right. Unfortunately this is the reality today. That’s why we need to be much stronger. We see that this injustice has been continuing for nearly 20 years. We need to mobilize our efforts and to strengthen our position. We must develop our economic potential. According to the latest reports, Azerbaijan leads the countries with rapidly growing economies. We must increase our economic resources. All the work done pursues this goal.”

AzerTAj


i think he lives in his own world. What country accepts the khojaly incident? not even Turkey has accepted it. I guess he's talking about the world community in his fantasy world where Armenia never existed and Artsakh belonged to them. Also its in this same fantasy world where international organizations back a resolution for territorial integrity. i guess he forgot the document they signed along with other countries that says a country right to self determination comes before territorial integrity.
I like the last bolded statement. We have no territorial claims but Armenia belongs to us, that was the icing on this xxxx filled cake.

[ashot24]

Re: Azerbaijan - Internal Political Affairs

i think he lives in his own world. What country accepts the khojaly incident? not even Turkey has accepted it. I guess he's talking about the world community in his fantasy world where Armenia never existed and Artsakh belonged to them. Also its in this same fantasy world where international organizations back a resolution for territorial integrity. i guess he forgot the document they signed along with other countries that says a country right to self determination comes before territorial integrity.
I like the last bolded statement. We have no territorial claims but Armenia belongs to us, that was the icing on this xxxx filled cake.

Yes, he's indeed a very crazy/disturbed man...and is funny to see how sometimes he contradicts himself, oh and his redundancy...

It is clear to everyone no country has ever and will ever recognize that what happened in Khojaly was Genocide. Although the world community may give its condolences to Azerbaijan for the tragedy, that doesn't mean they accept their claims, as you said not even Turkey has done so at an legal level...

About the thing on what is more territorial integrity or right to self-determination, what is more backed or more important, it highly depends on who's asking for either and who's supporting it...as an example, why Kosovo can have the recognition of various UN members but not Artsakh, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Somaliland, Transnistria, etc.? What crown do they have?....the world community apply double-standards

Azerbaijan is always saying they have UN resolutions, and the world community supporting the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan...well, they have...but they forget to mention that such things are mere "moral support" and have no legal weight, and they as politicians are well aware of it

[Haykakan]

Re: Azerbaijan - Internal Political Affairs

EURASIA INSIGHT
AZERBAIJAN: BAKU DEBATES DITCHING RUSSIAN-ORIGIN LAST NAMES

http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav030210.shtml

Mina Miradova 3/02/10

A draft law on dropping Russian endings from Azeri last names is
fueling debate in Azerbaijan about how best to define the country's
national identity.

As elsewhere in the South Caucasus, Russia's cultural influence has
been receding rapidly since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
In Azerbaijan, that change coincides with the country's emergence as a
regional energy power.

Many believe that ethnic Azeri last names better suit Azerbaijan's
status as an independent state with an identity of its own, rather
than names with Russian-origin endings.

Such a changeover, however, would be no small task. A six-month
research study done by a special commission under the National Academy
of Sciences shows that nearly 80 percent of Azerbaijan's population of
8.3 million has last names with the Russian endings of "-ov/ova" or
"-ev/eva." Among that number is Azerbaijan's president, Ilham Aliyev,
whose administration is now reviewing the name-change legislation.

Under the proposal, submitted by parliament's Culture Committee
chairman, Nizami Jafarov, a member of the governing Yeni Azerbaijan
Party, the name change will be obligatory for all newborns; others
will only be recommended to drop the Russian last name endings of
"-ov/ova" and "-ev/eva." Participants would then choose one of four
Azeri endings for their new last names: "-ly", "-oglu", "-gil" or
"-soy."

Debate still persists about names ending with "-zade," an ending
derived from Persian; Jafarov, though, believes the ending could make
the cut "because people perceive it as a national [ethnic Azeri] one."

The name-change requirement would not apply to Azerbaijani citizens of
non-Azeri ethnic origin, he said. While conceding that some
Azerbaijanis will not be eager to change their names, he put the
number at no more than 10 percent of population, the APA news agency
reported.

One leader of Azerbaijan's movement for independence from the Soviet
Union characterizes the proposal as a chance to wipe out an
"historical injustice."

"We did not accept the '-ov' and '-ev' endings voluntarily," said poet
Sabir Rustamhanly, a member of parliament. "Without asking anybody's
wish, these endings were added to everybody's last name. ? The change
in the endings of our last names was part of the [Russian] policy to
influence our national consciousness and to distort our history."

Tsarist Russia gained control over modern-day Azerbaijan in 1828, as
part of a treaty with Persia that ceded Persian-held territories in
the Caucasus to Russia. Azerbaijan declared its independence in 1918
with the creation of the Azerbaijani Democratic Republic, but again
fell under Russian suzerainty in 1920 following the invasion of the
Red Army.

Two years after Azerbaijan declared its independence from the Soviet
Union in 1991, parliament issued a decree on the voluntary change of
last names, but few changes were made. Russian language influence has
since declined sharply, as Azerbaijan has opened up more widely to the
outside world.

Promoting Azeri last names over names with Russian endings will do
little to complete the independence process, believes one journalist.
Elchin Shikhlinsky, editor-in-chief of Baku's Russian-language daily
Zerkalo (Mirror), argues that forcing people to change their last
names would potentially constitute a human rights violation.

"The commission can only work out proposals and recommend that people
change [their names], but it can't force them," said Shikhlinsky, who
does not plan to drop his last name's Russian ending. Newborns given a
last name with an Azeri ending should "be able to make a decision
independently" about their names when they receive their
identification cards, he added.

The prospect of a name change confuses 35-year-old mother Rena
Abilova, now in her sixth month of pregnancy. "So, my baby will have a
last name different from ours," she sighed. "My husband and I tried to
replace our last name's ending with the suggested ones, but none of
them sound right. I . . . do not know what we will do."

The Academy of Sciences commission has proposed the creation of a
state-run database to keep track of Azeri first and last names.

Greater enthusiasm for taking a new, Azeri-only last name can be found
among Azerbaijanis who are too young to remember the Soviet Union and
want a more Turkic-sounding last name, commented Vafa Jafarova, the
former head of the youth movement Dalga. The support, though, is "not
massive," she added.

Political analyst Zardusht Alizade calls the name-change proposal
"cheap populism."

"These people are playing the worthless role of pseudo-patriots who
allegedly are looking for their own national roots and want to restore
the integrity of their national pride," Alizade contended. "[But] by
changing [our] last names, nothing positive and progressive will
happen in society. To be free from outside influence, we should change
our mindset and implement independent [government] policies."

Zerkalo Editor-in-Chief Shikhlinsky seconds that opinion, calling for
the government and society to "grow out of their short pants."

Other Azerbaijanis say they will make the name change only when senior
government officials take the first step. So far, no such decision has
been announced.


Editor's Note: Mina Miradova is a freelance reporter based in Baku.

Posted March 2, 2010 © Eurasianet

http://www.eurasianet.org

[ninetoyadome]

Re: Azerbaijan - Internal Political Affairs

AZERBAIJAN: RFE/RL WEBSITE EXPERIENCING ACCESS PROBLEM IN BAKU
Giorgi Lomsadze 3/09/10

Internet users in Azerbaijan began experiencing problems accessing Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Azeri-language website the day after the news service posted its coverage of a Washington Post story about alleged real estate transactions involving the children of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, the head of the station’s Azerbaijani service tells EurasiaNet.


The Washington Post reported on March 5 that three Azerbaijani citizens with the same names and birth dates as President Aliyev’s adolescent son, Heydar, and daughters, Leyla and Arzu, had purchased $75 million-worth of luxury properties in Dubai, the financial capital of the United Arab Emirates.[For additional information click here].

Responding to The Washington Post article on March 8, Ali Hasanov, head of the presidential administration’s Political and Public Affairs Department, told Azerbaijani journalists that no law prevents members of the presidential family from taking part in commercial activities, the state-run APA news agency reported.

RFERL’s coverage of the story resulted in hundreds of user comments on its Azeri-language website. The day after posting its coverage, Azadliq Radio, the Azeri-language service for the US-government-funded broadcaster, started receiving reader complaints about difficulty in accessing the site, RFE/RL Azerbaijani Service Director Kenan Aliyev told EurasiaNet.

"Starting from Saturday, March 6, users of our websites -- azadliq.org and azadliqradiosu.az - [began] experiencing problems with access via different internet providers and on mobile phones in Azerbaijan," Aliyev told EurasiaNet. "We haven’t located the source of the problem, but we can say that problems accessing our site began after we posted an article [about the real estate transactions] originally published by the Washington Post."

RFE/RL technicians have been able to determine that the problem accessing Azadliq lies with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) located inside Azerbaijan, RFE/RL Azerbaijani Service Director Aliyev added. The service’s two sites -- azadliq.org, operated from RFE/RL’s headquarters in Prague, and azadliqradiosu.az -- remain fully accessible to users from outside Azerbaijan, he continued.

Subscribers to almost all of Azerbaijan’s main ISPs -- Bakinternet, Azeronline and Uninet -- have either been unable to access Azadliq Radio, or have had only intermittent access, the pro-opposition news agency Turan reported on March 9.

The website plays a critical role for the US-government-funded news service, which lost its access to Azerbaijan’s national FM frequencies in 2009. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

Azadliq Radio representatives have communicated their concerns about access to Internet providers, which have promised to resolve the issue, Aliyev said. He added that he was reluctant to jump to conclusions about the cause of the disruption. "We asked local Internet providers in Azerbaijan to explain this unusual problem to us," he said. "We continue to monitor the situation."

Several Internet users in Azerbaijan reached by EurasiaNet late on March 9 said that they receive a message that the Azadliq URL is not functioning when they try to access the site. One Bakinternet user said that he was redirected to a list of other sites.

Bakinternet and other Internet providers were not immediately available to comment on the access matter.

Editor's Note: Giorgi Lomsadze is a freelance reporter based in Tbilisi.

http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav030910c.shtml

[ninetoyadome]

Re: Azerbaijan - Internal Political Affairs

AZERBAIJAN: OUTRAGE AT US DRUG REPORT BUILDS ON IRRITATION WITH WASHINGTON
Shahin Abbasov 3/17/10

Print this article Email this article

Azerbaijani government outrage over a US global narcotics report appears to be rooted in a translation error. Nevertheless, Baku’s strong reaction appears to be indicative of broader irritation with Washington, as well as sensitivity about increasing drug-use in Azerbaijan.

The roots of the political contretemps between Baku and Washington are found in the March 1 release of the US State Department’s 2010 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCS). Several Azerbaijani media outlets carried summaries describing the US report as stating that 30 percent to 35 percent of all Azerbaijani students are drug addicts. [For additional information click here (PDF)]

The report sparked an indignant response from Education Minister Misir Mardanov, who termed the report’s findings "an insult to the Azerbaijani people," the pro-government Trend news agency reported.

And in a rare move, the Baku city government authorized a March 11 demonstration outside the US Embassy by the Student Youth Organization, a non-governmental group. About 100 banner-carrying activists gathered outside the American embassy in Baku to declare that "Azerbaijani students are not drug addicted" and "No to State Department’s unfair report."

The students’ leader told EurasiaNet.org that the protests would continue so long as the US State Department did not change the INCS text.

"The report offended us as Azerbaijanis and as Muslims," commented Shahin Ismayilov. "Thirty to 35 percent of students are female. It is against our mentality to accuse our females of drug addiction."

The Azerbaijani government’s indignation over the report appeared to be based on an incorrect translation from English to Azeri. The original International Narcotics Control Strategy (INCS) Report, in fact, stated that students "are thought" to make up some 30 to 35 percent of the country’s total number of drug addicts. According to official statistics there are 23,254 addicts in Azerbaijan, but unofficial estimates place the number as high as 300,000.

The assertion also appeared in the Report’s 2009 version. [For additional information, click here]

An American diplomat who requested anonymity told EurasiaNet.org that the US Embassy informed the Azerbaijani government about the 2010 Report’s actual text. The outcry, nonetheless, continued.

In response to the heightened emotions, the US State Department decided to remove the data from this year’s report, embassy spokesperson Terry Davidson told EurasiaNet.org on March 17.

The uproar coincides with two other controversies that are straining ties between Baku and Washington.

A March 4 US House of Representatives committee decision to put to a House vote a non-binding resolution on recognition of Ottoman Turkey’s slaughter of ethnic Armenians as genocide is seen in Baku as a swipe against Azerbaijan’s longtime ally, Turkey. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

That same day, a Washington Post article about real estate purchases in Dubai by Azerbaijanis bearing the same names as President Ilham Aliyev’s children sparked a terse rebuke from Ali Hasanov, head of the presidential administration’s Political and Public Affairs Department. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

The official venting against the INCS report soon followed.

Senior Azerbaijani officials have previously highlighted drug addiction as a growing problem for young people in the Caucasus country. In 2006, State Commission on Fighting Drugs Chairperson Israfil Aliyev claimed that as many as 70 percent of the country’s drug users are "young people" [between the ages of 18 and 35], and that 30 percent to 35 percent of that number are university-age students, Trend reported.

Aliyev declined to speak with EurasiaNet.org about the INCS report.

Data from the Ministry of Health shows that the number of registered drug addicts in Azerbaijan has roughly quadrupled over the past decade, rising to over 23,000 in 2009 from 6,000 to 7,000 addicts in 1996-1997.

Citing "international practice," a doctor at one private clinic for drug addicts in Baku estimated that the real number of addicts could be "several times larger than official statistics show."

"People are afraid of going to clinics because of discrimination by society," said Dr. Araz Manuchekhri-Lalei, a senior lecturer on psychiatry at Azerbaijan’s State Medical University.

Government statistics put the average age of addiction at 20 years old, but both Dr. Manuchekhri-Lalei and Kamala Aliyeva, head of the Children’s Union of Azerbaijan, questioned the accuracy of that figure.

Unlike elsewhere in the world, the average age of Azerbaijani addicts appears to be growing older, Manuchekhri-Lalei claimed. "In my practice, I often meet patients who began using heroin or cocaine when they are already 40 and older," he said.

The recent increase in the "number of people following Islamic rules" about drugs and alcohol appears to have affected the average age of addicts, as more and more younger Azerbaijanis become practicing Muslims, he said.

Amid Azerbaijan’s economic boom, drugs of choice for adults have changed from marijuana and hashish to higher-cost heroin, cocaine and LSD, he added.

Aliyeva, meanwhile, believes that the average age of addiction is growing younger. She puts the age at 18 years old, with youngsters between the ages of 13 and 20 making up "the main risk group." While Islam exerts an influence, "societal problems" are contributing to that trend, she added.

Azerbaijan has waged a public information campaign against drug use among youngsters since 1996 via its State Commission on Fighting Drugs, the first such organization in the South Caucasus.

Editor's Note: Shahin Abbasov is a freelance correspondent based in Baku. He is also a board member of the Open Society Institute-Azerbaijan.

http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav031710.shtml

i thought they would blame Armenia. 20% of our land is under occupation so the people have to use drugs.