31 July 2008

(October presidential elections and press freedom are major concerns)

Washington -- The United States believes Azerbaijan must improve its record of democratic governance and respect for human rights, according to a senior State Department official who visited the country in June.

“Azerbaijan’s progress on democratic reform is key not only to the strengthening of our bilateral relationship, but also to Azerbaijan’s own long-term stability,” said David Kramer, assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor.

Speaking in Washington July 29 before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, Kramer highlighted continued strong cooperation between the two countries in energy diversification and on security issues, but also outlined the administration’s concerns about the October 2008 Azerbaijani presidential election and deteriorating press freedom.

During his June visit, Kramer met with President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, as well as with independent journalists, opposition politicians and civil society figures to discuss these and other human rights issues.

“We are concerned that the political space for dissenting voices has been shrinking over the past few years,” Kramer said.  “While some in the [Azerbaijani] government have argued that the opposition’s weakness is due to a lack of new faces and ideas, the government bears ultimate responsibility for the climate within which political parties and candidates operate and within which public debate takes place.”

Kramer added that U.S. election assistance, in Azerbaijan and worldwide, aims not to influence outcomes but to foster a climate supportive of a “competitive, free and fair elections process.”

Kramer urged the government to release jailed reporters and investigate in a “rigorous and transparent” manner acts of physical violence against journalists.

The United States supports development of an independent media in Azerbaijan. It funds programs to aid the professional development of journalists and to enhance the capacity of local media outlets to be financially self-sustaining.

Despite the concerns about Azerbaijan’s human rights record, Kramer said, other aspects of the bilateral relationship are strong.  Azerbaijan has contributed troops to the international missions in Kosovo and Iraq.  It has become a major natural gas supplier to Europe.

Kramer’s comments mirror those made by Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on June 18.  Fried urged Azerbaijan to step up the tempo of reform, saying the challenge facing the country is how to manage the significant revenue generated by its rich oil and natural gas resources “without distorting or corrupting the economy and political system.”

Kramer’s trip to the south Caucasus also included stops in the neighboring states of Armenia and Georgia.