Bridget Brink: Criticism - Power of Democratic Society

The freedom of media, assembly, civil society activities play an important role in the development of democracy, said US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Bridget Brink at a press conference on the results of her visit to Azerbaijan on November 22.

During the visit, she held talks with the President, Foreign Minister, representatives of civil society and the opposition in Azerbaijan. She called the meetings fruitful.

"During the meetings we discussed the prospects of bilateral relations. We had an exchange of views on security cooperation, counter-terrorism, transnational crime, corruption, the development of the judicial system, economic relations, and the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We noted an important role of Azerbaijan in ensuring energy security of Europe ", - said Brink.

According to her, the sides reviewed plans with respect to the economic development of Azerbaijan and the activity in the field of democracy. "Economic reforms will help to reduce corruption and increase transparency," said the US diplomat. 

She commended the decree of the President of Azerbaijan on the application of the principle of "single window" in the issuance of foreign donors' grants in Azerbaijan. In her opinion, this decree will give impetus to the provision of grants from abroad.

During the meeting the sides also discussed issues related to the imprisoned leader of the movement REAL Ilgar Mammadov and the development of democracy.

"In democratic societies the freedom of speech, meetings and civil society activitie are important," said Brink.

Referring to the Karabakh problem, she noted that the conflict has no military solution. "The United States will continue to work with the parties and is committed to sustainable and comprehensive peace," said Brink.

She confirmed that the US co-chair James Warlick will be replaced by another diplomat. She praised Warlick's work, but did not report who will succeed him.

She shied away from a direct answer to the question of Turan whether any progress was achieved in the negotiations on democracy and whether there was an agreement on the opening of the Radio Azadlig Baku Bureau.

"One of the rules of diplomacy is that you do not think about the future plans. We appreciate the President's decree on grants," Brink said vaguely.

Asked about her attitude to non-implementation of the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of the leader of REAL Mammadov, Brink said that she "would not want to go into details of the talks."

"However, this issue is important to us. The decision of the European Court of Human Rights is important for us. The existence of freedoms, freedom of the press and assembly, and critical voices are very important for the development of a democratic society. The US has experience in this area. As an employee of the US administration, I have often been criticized. Criticism is the power of a democratic society," said Brink. -03S06--