Friday, October 17, 2003

DEMOCRACY UPDATE

Two die in violence after Azerbaijani "elections"

The race to democracy (sic) has been reported here previously.

It's getting better (sic).

Since 1993, Ilham Aliev's father, Haidar, has used his patriarchal image and strong secret services to impose an autocratic regime on Azerbaijan. There was a good level of stability and foreign investment - bought at a cost of human rights and free elections.

the continuation of the Aliev dynasty is considered vital to western oil interests, which are currently focused on a Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline run by BP.

So our lack of interest in kicking out these (friendly) despots has nothing to do with oil.

Update: OSCE is very upset.

Ambassador Christian Strohal, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), has expressed deep concern

Big fuggin' deal.

:: Posted by pete @ 15:57