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Azerbaijan repeatedly demonstrated its real commitment to European integration – Top official

13 September 2013 17:12 (UTC+04:00)
Azerbaijan repeatedly demonstrated its real commitment to European integration – Top official

Building in less than a generation a modern, secular and democratic nation is not an easy task, head of Department of political analysis and information provision of Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Elnur Aslanov said.

In the article published by "The Economist", Aslanov said that today Azerbaijan is a tolerant, multi-ethnic and multi-confessional state, an emerging powerhouse that serves as the socio-political and economic conduit between Europe and Asia.

"Azerbaijan is viewed by many as a strategic partner in the South-Caucasus, including NATO, which counts on Azerbaijan's east-west corridor to deliver about 30 percent of the coalition's supplies bound for Afghanistan," he said.

"Azerbaijan has repeatedly demonstrated its real commitment to European integration," he said.

Aslanov also voiced his views towards the "Azerbaijan: How not to prepare for an election" article published by "The Economist" on Sept. 2.

"I welcome your coverage of the events that take part in the political life of Azerbaijan," Aslanov said. "However, I would like to express some concern over an online article, "How not to prepare for an election", which painted the overall situation in the country as black and white."

"Baku is fully aware that if you silence the media, you silence informed citizens and freedom can be greatly compromised," he said. "We support and protect a free and diverse media. The government has no say in the form and content of hundreds of daily newspapers, magazines and other products that roll off the printing press."

"Today Azerbaijan holds 39th place among 148 economies in the Global Competitiveness report by the World Economic Forum in 2013-2014," he said. "This reflects many factors, including the poverty rate, which has fallen from 50 percent in 2001 to 6 percent today."

Aslanov emphasized that free and fair elections are a cornerstone of all forms of democracy.

"The outcome will matter," he said. "At stake is the continuing economic growth and regional security that has placed Azerbaijan in the global mainstream. With this in mind we are committed to doing everything we can to make sure that these elections are transparent, free and fair."

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