Reno Harnish: “The USA supports realization of the political processes in Azerbaijan only by means of evolution”

According to the information of the north bureau of APA, the ambassador said that the goal of his visit was to be acquainted with the regions: “We often visit the regions in order to be acquainted with facts in the regions. At first, we pay attention to that how USA economic aids are utilized”.

He informed that a milk production enterprise in Khachmaz, bee-keeping farm, carpet-making enterprise in Guba started activity thanks to the grants of USA. The ambassador saying that they will also meet with the structures representing ethnical minorities noted that he already met with the representatives of the Lezghin and Jewish communities and one specialist on the Islam religion.

The ambassador also noted that his visit has special significance on the eve of the parliamentary elections to be held in November and said that he met with the executive heads and members of the parties. As to the opinion of the ambassador noting existence of the forces interested in straining the pre-election situation, some people want to conduct elections in an old form: “The president informed that he supports conduction of normal elections. But some persons try to prevent the right of gathering in the regions. Resources of the government are used for some candidates in signature gathering. This is an old tradition. When saying it, I intend some forces in the authority. They are against of giving the right of gathering to the people in the decree issued by the president in May. I consider that this also troubles the supporters of conduction of normal election elections in Azerbaijan”.

The ambassador calling these parliamentary elections to be the “most interesting elections” said that the USA supports realization of the political processes in Azerbaijan only by means of evolution: “We support realization of the political changes by means of elections. Some respectable persons representing USA visited Azerbaijan. M.Albright, deputy of the state secretary and me informed that we support only conduction of the democratic elections in Azerbaijan. While I am the ambassador in Azerbaijan, I will continue by visits. It is impossible to get all information only sitting in Baku. We must establish connection with all layers of the population. That is, I am not the supporter of any political force’s seizing the power. The USA elects neither political parties, nor candidates”.

The ambassador calling the USA to be the friend of Azerbaijan stressed that they share their opinions with the authority and carry out trainings for the political parties for normal conduction of the elections. R.Harnish welcoming the decrees on abolishing imprisonment on the persons arrested during the events happened on October 16 valued this as a positive step of the government.

The diplomat touching the solution of the Garabagh conflict stressed once again that he supports peaceful solution of the problem. The ambassador called the Moscow meeting of the MFA heads and Kazan meeting of the presidents to be important events.