[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 124 (Thursday, September 29, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1986]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF DEMOCRACY IN AZERBAIJAN

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                           HON. JACK KINGSTON

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 29, 2005

  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I wish to include in the Record an article 
by Azerbaijan Ambassador to the United States Hafiz Pashayev. This was 
published in The Washington Times on September 11, 2005 and is a great 
testament to the progress made in Azervaijan toward holding peaceful 
and fair elections.

       In a recent visit to Azerbaijan as National Democratic 
     Institute chairman, former Secretary of State Madeleine 
     Albright said, ``Election day is important, but the months 
     leading up to the elections are also crucial.''
       She referred to the parliamentary elections to be held Nov. 
     6, when the citizens of Azerbaijan go to the polls to elect 
     their representatives to parliament, or Milli Mejlis.
       The Bush administration views these elections are a litmus 
     test of the Azerbaijan government's commitment to democracy. 
     The U.S. Congress has weighed in by passing a resolution 
     calling on Azerbaijan ``to hold orderly, peaceful, and free 
     and fair elections in November 2005 in order to ensure the 
     long-term growth and stability of the country.''
       We are the first to recognize that independence, stability 
     and prosperity depend on successful democratic reform. 
     President Iham Aliyev wants an orderly transition, as our 
     last few years of unprecedented economic growth would be 
     jeopardized by political instability. Toward this end and to 
     conduct elections according to international standards, the 
     president issued an Executive Order outlining steps to be 
     taken:
       1. Allowing all political parties to organize rallies free 
     from violence and intimidation.
       2. Welcoming domestic and international election observers.
       3. Providing access to media, thus ensuring fair coverage.
       4. And ensuring central and regional authorities create the 
     necessary conditions for exit polls.
       Among many provisions of the Order already carried out are 
     those that concern participation in the political arena by 
     opposition parties. There has been dialogue between ruling 
     and opposition parties, all opposition parties may freely 
     conduct rallies and demonstrations and, thus far, all 
     opposition activists-including those who called for overthrow 
     of government in October 2003--have been allowed to become 
     candidates if they wish. During his visit to Azerbaijan at 
     the end of August, Sen. Richard Lugar, Indiana Republican, 
     said: ``The opposition leaders underlined that the 
     registration process of the MP candidates went well, which is 
     a step forward compared to the previous elections'' President 
     Aliyev went further by warning all regional election 
     officials not to interfere in the old Soviet fashion, when 
     ballot-stuffmg was common.
       President Aliyev's insistence on free and fair elections in 
     November is based on the idea Azerbaijan's secular government 
     can co-exit with its Muslim traditions.
       Our vision is premised on the belief democratic pluralism 
     will ensure, a peaceful outlet for dissent, eliminating the 
     need for violent alternatives. Citizens of all ethnicities 
     and political persuasions are free to advocate their 
     positions peacefully.
       Today, Azerbaijan is a vibrant, independent state. We have 
     faced many challenges in our young country's life: preserving 
     our independence in a tough neighborhood; making the 
     transition from a shattered to a market economy; building 
     government institutions and an independent judiciary; finding 
     a peaceful solution to our conflict with Armenia; and 
     developing our natural resources to world markets.
       Throughout these difficult years, the United States has 
     been a friend and ally of Azerbaijan. Our strategic 
     partnership has blossomed since the attacks on America on 
     September 11, 2001. Immediately after, the late President 
     Heydar Aliyev visited the U.S. Embassy in Baku not only to 
     express his condolences but to offer his full support. Today, 
     we stand side-by-side in the global war on terrorism. Our 
     troops proudly serve in Afghanistan and Iraq.
       Azerbaijan's location between Russia, Iran and Turkey, 
     coupled with our desire to integrate into-the Euro-Atlantic 
     community, requires that we conduct a balanced foreign policy 
     fostering development of democratic institutions and a strong 
     economy. Azerbaijan has come this far without tangible 
     foreign aid and expects to continue democratic and economic 
     development, primarily through its own resources.
       According to a recent survey by the International 
     Republican Institute sponsored by USAID, an overwhelming 
     majority of Azerbaijanis want economic and social development 
     to be their government's priority concerns.
       This November, the people of Azerbaijan will elect a 
     Parliament I believe will accelerate our transition toward 
     democratic pluralism to match the country's unprecedented 
     economic growth. Mr. Lugar told the press in Baku: ``I sense 
     in Azerbaijan a yearning for building strong democratic 
     institutions.''

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