We Speak Truth about Azerbaijan - Gülli Cahangir

Baku / 13.12.17 / Turan: A conference of the Azerbaijani Diaspora organization AND - Azerbaycan Namine Demokratiya (Democracy in the Name of Azerbaijan) was held in German Düsseldorf yesterday.

The initiators of the meeting were the co-chairmen of the organization, the former diplomat Arif Memmedov and the editor-in-chief of the newspaper Azadlig, Genimet Zahid.

The honorary guests of the conference were Professor, former presidential candidate of Azerbaijan and chairman of the National Council of Democratic Forces Cemil Hesenli and deputy chairman of the Musavat party Tofik Yagublu, who delivered speeches to the participants.

The first part of the conference was conducted openly, and the second one, where intra-organizational issues were discussed was closed.

"Successful and promising" called the conference its participant, political emigrant and former KGB-MNB officer Ramin Nagiyev.

"We started our movement from 4-6 people, and in Düsseldorf there were already more than 50 people from all European countries, regardless of nationalities or party affiliation," he told Turan.

Co-chairman Arif Memmedov in his turn said that next year in Brussels there will be a big conference dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijani People's Republic, where European politicians and leading media of Europe will be invited.

"We are sure that by that time thousands of people will become members of the AND; only in the first 2 days after the Conference in Germany, more than 200 people expressed a desire to become members of our organization.

Next week we will create an electronic questionnaire to cope with such a flow. We have developed a draft of new membership cards for members of the AND, which are provided with electronic barcodes, and we are working on the recognition of membership cards in the structures of the EU and CE," Memmedov added.

Turan's other questions were answered by the head of the AND secretariat, Gülli Cahangir.

- Please tell us about your organization.

- As you know, the AND is an independent political movement, created in September 2016 by a group of emigrants living in Europe. It is noteworthy that the AND unites people with different political views, of different ages and with different backgrounds.

Among us are those who went to study or work in Europe, those who created a family with a foreigner, but we are all united by one thing - love for our Motherland, the desire to see Azerbaijan a full state with democratic principles, observing human rights, where the king is the law, but not a person.

Azerbaijan has laws similar to those in Europe, but they do not work, and even if they work, it is only for certain people. I would very much like to see that the rights of every citizen of Azerbaijan are observed exactly as our rights here in Europe. We, foreigners have more rights here than Azerbaijanis in Azerbaijan. We will fight for it to the last.

- What are the objectives of the AND?

- One of the tasks of our movement is constant work with European politicians, with representatives of our countries in the European Union and in the Council of Europe. It is important to communicate the truth about what is happening. This concerns both the Karabakh issue and gross violations of human rights in Azerbaijan.

Our work does not mean the blackening of Azerbaijan. We are telling the truth and we want Europe to know Azerbaijan not only as a country that introduced the term "caviar diplomacy", but as a country with a rich culture, history, famous people, its democratic transformations and reforms. This is not achieved by song contests Eurovision, European Games, or Formula-1. To do this, it is necessary to improve the quality of education, health care, and social protection.

Azerbaijani citizens hear and watch news on Azerbaijani channels, where Europe is presented as "decaying" and "living badly". But it's enough to go to the streets of Copenhagen and Malmö - two cities in my life where you can see everywhere the joyful faces of adults and children, foreigners and locals. Everyone feels safe here.

Therefore, we consider it important to convey the truth about Europe to our compatriots in Azerbaijan. We want Azerbaijan to achieve at least 30% of the level of European countries, such as Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Sweden, or Norway, in terms of well-being and human rights.

The main problem in Azerbaijan is corruption. Unfortunately, corruption did not spare Europe either. A well-known case of Azerbaijan Laundromat is a good example. We are negotiating with European politicians to prevent the spread of corruption in the European Parliament and the so-called lobbying of European politicians by the Azerbaijani authorities.

We are working to convince the Europeans that if the authorities in Azerbaijan do not stop corruption, violate human rights and unlawfully detain opposition-minded citizens of the country, then European countries must pass a law analogous to the Magnitsky law.

- What kind of people gather in the AND?

- I am glad that the AND gathers a strong team of educated, thinking people of different nationalities who are not afraid of difficulties. It's nice to see that every member of our team is the personnel potential of the country. After all, in the future we will all return to our homeland, and we must raise the country with our knowledge and experience.

- What is the difference between the AND and other opposition Diaspora organizations?

- The fact is that we do not use traditional methods of struggle. We do not hold rallies, although members of our movement have repeatedly participated in various protests organized by other Diaspora organizations. We will organize peaceful protests, bearing their own meaning, showing the difference between Azerbaijan and European countries. We are in constant contact with various political organizations and parties in European countries. We have European advisers - former and current politicians and diplomats.

- Who are you associated with and do you cooperate with?

- I want to emphasize that the AND is not connected with any political force in Azerbaijan. Among us there are People's Front (Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan), "Classics" (the party of the Classic Popular Front of Azerbaijan), Musavatists, representatives of the National Council, etc. We have always stated and declared that we are open to cooperation with all political parties and movements, for which the goal is the same as for us - to see Azerbaijan prosperous, legal and democratic.

We do not strive to be the best of all. It is important for us that we are active in the society where we live, are active in our work on the democratization of Azerbaijan.

- Please tell us about the last conference in Düsseldorf.

- At the last conference there were guests from Baku, a well-known scientist, historian, Professor Cemil Hesenli and former political prisoner Tofik Yagublu. They told what the situation in Azerbaijan is like and what kind of AND they would like to see. And what is important for me personally, the distinguished Professor stressed that in us he sees the true continuers of the ideas of the leaders of the People's Republic of Azerbaijan in 1918-20. There could not be a greater compliment for us.

The first 10 certificates of the movement were presented at the conference. We managed to attract young Azerbaijanis who have good potential in their countries of residence. I am glad to see them in our ranks. We will continue to attract such young people.

The AND calls on all political forces of Azerbaijan to cooperate.

We are allies and we have one goal - democratic and legal Azerbaijan, free from tyranny, with a high social and economic level, which includes Karabakh and all the adjacent areas. -0-