- Mister Molazade, your party is named Democratic Reforms Party. What reforms are necessary in Azerbaijan today?
- As any other post-Soviet republic, Azerbaijan needs serious reforms in various spheres including public education, politics, and economy. What we need today is to improve our educational system and develop a political culture. Reforms have already been started, but we believe the process should be expedited. We also need to develop the middle class and medium-sized businesses. This is very important for any democratic state.
- Nowadays the Iranian media often accuses Azerbaijan of violating human rights. What do you think about such accusations?
- That’s ridiculous. Azerbaijan was the first Muslim country that established secular democracy. Nowadays our country remains deeply secular and democratic; people of all religions are equal. Iran itself is a clerical state, where human rights are violated in an outrageous way. The aim of such propaganda is to frustrate our independence. The reason is that Azerbaijan is participating in European and North Atlantic integration. The Iranian isolated regime is afraid of this process. That is why Iran supports Armenia’s aggressive plans.
- What problems do Azerbaijani people have?- Our country enters the period of reforms. Some people are worried because of the beginning of an anti-corruption campaign. However the situation in the country is very stable. What we need is a revolution of the mind.- Some Azerbaijani political parties are now calling for an uprising. Several rallies have already been organized. Experts believe that Western countries are supporting the radicals. What is your opinion?- I don’t believe in that. Such actions are unimportant; the people who take part in them are not numerous. I don’t think any foreign powers are supporting them. As for me, I am certain that what we need is not a revolution, but the improvement of political culture, development of our democratic political system.
Interview by Ramin Naziyev, Baku. Exclusively for VK
