The amendment was included in the law on the initiative of the senator John McCain. The document that regulates the governmental financial aid to foreign countries contains a criticism about the Azerbaijani authorities that did not want to hold free and democratic elections. The amendment urges the President and US Secretary of State to convince the Baku authorities to form an independent commission together with representatives of the OSCE and the Council of Europe to study the falsifications taken place during the elections, as well as to organize new elections if the commission decides that they are necessary.
As expected, the authorities tried to pretend that there was nothing serious. “There is nothing extraordinary. Such hearings are being held in all the countries with transition democracy, after the elections,” Ambassador of Azerbaijan in the USA Hafiz Pashayev said. “The fact that the American senators have fixed certain short-comings is rather normal,” the American diplomat said. However he said that some senators had negative intentions. Executive Secretary of the “Yeni Azerbaijan” party Ali Ahmedov was more nervous. “No foreign country or its legislative body can make decisions concerning the elections of another country,” he said. “The elections in Azerbaijan were democratic and transparent”. He even noted that Washington shared this opinion because President Bush had sent a telegram congratulating Ilham Aliyev.
Meanwhile, the leaders of the opposition have another opinion. Former Presidential candidate, head of the Musavat party Isa Gambar said about this that the decision of the senate was the first serious step of the Western world. Another candidate, head of the National front party Ali Kerimli said the initiative of the senator McCain was fair and expected. “The suggestion of the senator will be taken into account,” he said. The Baku newspapers are rather impartial while commenting the events in Congress. For example, the Zerkalo newspaper compares this new amendment with the 907 section of the Freedom Support Act which was forbidding the American administration to make a direct financial support to Azerbaijan until it removes the blockade of Armenia and Karabakh. “This may have very serious consequences,” the newspaper writes, “The President and the Department of State will have to take into account these recommendations in their policy towards Azerbaijan. On the eve of Presidential elections it will be difficult for Bush not to take into account this demonstration of public opinion,” the newspaper writes.
The decision of the Congress becomes more serious taking into account the upcoming discussion in Strasbourg of the liabilities undertaken by Azerbaijan towards the Council of Europe. The winter session of the PACE may become a new unpleasant surprise for Baku.
