Marie Harf replies to Azeri government

Acting Spokesperson of the State Department Marie Harf on daily press briefing of April 17 was asked: if  the U.S. doing anything to hold Azerbaijan accountable for the recent crackdown of the civil society in the light of Rasul Jafarov`s case ?

“Well, I think we make clear our disappointment. I think there have been times where we have raised these cases. I don't have anything specific for you on that. But certainly we make clear our position on these”, - she said.

The Azerbaijan Government has reacted with the oh-so-unpredictable complaint that this is interference in its
internal affairs. “Do you have a response to the Azerbaijan Government?”- asked a journalist and continued –

 “ On the official Azerbaijan newspaper today they ran a front-page editorial accusing President Obama and Secretary Kerry of pursuing a pro-Armenian policy and trying to destabilize the region. I sent you all a link. So what is your reaction to this, and how do you define your relations? It's a strategic partnership?”

Marie  Harh replied: “I actually haven't seen the link. I'm happy to take a look at it. And look, we are very clear when we speak up about our concerns about human rights someplace. And attempting to blame us for things or turn the tables on the United States is really just a distraction from their own situation, which we have been very concerned about in terms of the human rights there. So I just - I think we're very clear when we disagree on human rights issues, and I don't have much more for you than that”. -25D-