Paul Svyatenkov at Vesti FM: Ilham Aliyev is boon for Azerbaijan

 

A political scientist, leading expert of the Historical Perspective Foundation, Pavel Svyatenkov, told the hosts of the radio-show 'Nachalo' on Vesti-FM, Giorgi Saralidze and Alexandra Pisareva, that Ilham Aliyev being the head of Azerbaijan is a boon for the country.

Georgi Saralidze asked about the duality of the EU's position towards Azerbaijan. "The other day two statements were made. On the one hand, the European institutions stressed the importance of Azerbaijan as a transit of Azerbaijani and Central Asian gas to Europe. On the other hand, very sharp observations about the human rights situation in Azerbaijan were made in the EU and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who is always very neat and diplomatic, answered as sharply. I was wondering when people make such statements, one positive about economic interests and another negative about the political life of Azerbaijan – why?" the host of Vesti FM asked.

According to Pavel Svyatenkov, the "double standards" are quite a natural thing for the West. "Such statements are simply a means of pressure. It should be understood that you can find any weaknesses in any country of the world, including the United States, if you wish," he noted.

"This morning I saw a western channel, which reported about another shooting in a movie theater. It happens all the time in the US, because the constitution provides the right to keep and bear arms. Theoretically, if someone wanted to, he could interfere in the internal affairs of the United States and say, "Look, the human rights in the security in your country are poorly respected." Therefore, any state can stick with all of this, inflate a minor episode and turn it into an international problem," Svyatenkov said.

The expert stressed that the Western statements about problems in Azerbaijan should be seen in this light, "because Ilham Aliyev himself and his rule is a boon for the country". "After all, Azerbaijan is an eastern, Muslim country, its educated and enlightened ruler doesn't pocket oil money but spends it on the development of the country, it is a very positive thing. So, again, Ilham Aliyev is a boon for Azerbaijan," a leading expert of the Historical Perspective Foundation said.