Amnesty International repot does not reflect the real situation in Azerbaijan at all-Ali Hasanov

Amnesty International published the next report a few days ago. The report has some points critical of human rights situation in Azerbaijan. What are your comments on the report as a whole and its demand for the Azerbaijani government to draft the list of officials who violate human rights?

Frankly speaking, the Azerbaijani government does not approve of the Amnesty International report and believes that this report does not reflect the real situation in Azerbaijan at all. The reports developed by this organization are usually biased. We therefore do not think that the Azerbaijani government will show a serious reaction to challenges of Amnesty International in this regard.

The protection of human rights, freedom of speech and media, the situation in this field meet current world standards and we have always been proud of being closer to relevant international standards among the countries in the region and also post-Soviet area. So, we consider similar reports to be biased.

This bias pursues certain goals and we have always made statements on this matter. In this respect, I do not think the Amnesty International’s challenges will cause any serious reaction from the Azerbaijani government.

Then why the name of Azerbaijan is especially emphasized in a context of current state of human rights and other related issues in reports released by this particular organization, or US Department of State and other international organizations? What is the reason?

There are various reasons. On one hand, some forces are displeased with the policies pursued by Azerbaijan. Some forces seek to influence the policies pursued in Azerbaijan. There is influence and interests of foreign foundations and certain pro-Armenian donor organizations and persons involved in this matter.

We have disclosed certain points over time. I believe one should not take these reports seriously. But, unfortunately, they shape an opinion about Azerbaijan in international community, harm image of our country. Of course, we are going to take adequate steps against this.

Can the steps aimed at harming the image of our country have a negative impact on fair resolution of the Karabakh conflict?

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has nothing to do with this issue. It is true that the image of Azerbaijani state is precious for us and we really work hard in the name of this image. The steps in this direction will be intensified.

I note once again that this has nothing to do with the Karabakh issue. Nagorno-Karabakh problem is a separate process. This problem emerged as a result of Armenia’s intervention into Azerbaijan’s lands. The lands of Azerbaijan were occupied and international law was violated. Whatever image Azerbaijan has, this issue must be settled in a fair manner.

I say this once again that there are also pro-Armenian funds who give instructions to international human rights organizations that encourage Amnesty International reports. They pursue certain goals in this matter.

Can the state of human rights be considered normal in Azerbaijan? Does the current state of affairs meet international standards and requirements to foreign organizations which the country have commitments to?

Of course, I believe the state of human rights is normal. Both political rights and rights to life and all rights related to human rights identified by international standards are fully ensured in Azerbaijan. Those who believe that human rights are violated or restricted in Azerbaijan one way or another are wrong. They unequivocally have biased attitude.

Which rights have not been ensured in Azerbaijan? As to fundamental human rights, there is a right to vote, to create a political party and engage in politics.

There is also a freedom of speech and media. There is a right to think independently, to collect and disseminate any information freely. We have fundamental human rights like to institute legal proceedings against someone, to assert and protect one’s rights through courts. However, we do not claim that there are no problems in Azerbaijan.

Of course, there are problems in any part of the world. The information about situation of human rights in the US, France, Germany and England in the Amnesty International reports and other related reports gives an impression that these countries have just left behind the primitive communal system.

What I want to say that similar non-governmental organizations have their own standards. But human rights policies of states rely on balance of fundamental human rights. Each of them has their own specific model of development and ways of approach. At the same time, this entails responsibility of individuals in terms of providing human rights. They have very wrong methodological approach to these standards. They cause disagreements while assessing human rights not only in Azerbaijan, but also other countries as well.