Azerbaijani business of Pedro Agramunt
Below with insignificant reductions, we offer readers an article of José Ignacio Torreblanca “Caviar diplomacy from Valencia to Azerbaijan” that was published on 24.01.2013 in the Spanish daily newspaper “El Pais” circulation of which is from 400 thousand to 500 thousand copies.
“Today, I want to present to the readers a rather unusual article. It is told in article that one research center has requested the resignation of Spanish Pedro Agramunt, a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the senator from the People’s Party, representing the autonomous region of Valencia.
This request was sent by the European Stability Initiative (ESI) independent think tank, which has its offices in Berlin, Brussels and Istanbul. Beginning from 1999 the center has been studying the processes of establishment of democracy in Balkans, Central and Eastern Europe countries and post Soviet states. European Stability Initiative (ESI) as an analytical and research center was created in 1999 at Sarajevo by eight young men who had very good experience in international and human right organizations.
I would not like in advance to comment serious accusations initiated by the ESI against Senator Agramunt who has the presumption of innocence. However, I am familiar with activity of the ESI… It seems to me their accusations should be accepted seriously and studied since they come from the people which have great confidence.
What is exactly Senator Agramunt being accused of? In order to see the complete picture, it is better to read the following two reports: “Caviar diplomacy, or how Azerbaijan has silenced the Council of Europe”, presented in May 2012, and “Portrait of Deception: how Azerbaijan was monitored or why Agramunt must leave office”, on January 22, 2013. When it comes to essentials, the ESI suggests that Senator Agramunt being Rapporteur on democracy and human rights in Azerbaijan, for which he was appointed by the European public, became one of the main lobbyists of the Aliyev regime in Europe.
Recall that all international organizations consider Azerbaijan, with population of nine millions, not free country. After independence, it was headed by Heydar Aliyev. When Heydar Aliyev died, the post was occupied by his son, Ilham Aliyev, who won the 2003 election with “with absolutely no doubts” getting 88.73% of the vote. When his second term came to an end in March 2009, Aliyev Jr. called a referendum on changes to the Constitution, in which 92% of voters said they will be glad to review the Constitution in order for Ilham Aliyev to remain in power as long as he wishes. In order to make sure, in a lamentable state of civil and political freedoms in the country, It is enough to familiar with the relevant reports of human rights organizations Amnistía Internacional, Freedom House and Human Rights Watch. OSCE, incidentally, noted that the recent elections were not free.
ESI accuses Agramunt of manipulating the reports of the observers from the field, cover-ups of violations of civil rights, the continued support of the regime, for inventing tales about a “progress of democracy”, justifying repression by linking it to the Islamist threat. Finally, Agramunt is accused in lobbying the Aliyev regime, by blocking sanctions against Azerbaijan.
Not so many Spaniards hold important positions in international organizations, not many are also in charge of monitoring compliance with democracy and human rights in other countries. That is why their actions should be completely flawless”.
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