Appeal to Europe
-
Author:
n/a -
Send To:
Members of the EU Parliament, members of the Parliamentary Assembley of the Council of Europe, European civil society and media
-
Sponsored By:
-
More Info at:
APPEAL TO EUROPE
Petition against Removal of Term Limits on Presidency in Azerbaijan
We want to express our grave concerns at the recently initiated legislative process of amendments to the constitution of Azerbaijan Republic including the removal of two term limits on any person serving as president. The referendum scheduled to be held on 18th of March would be a notable step by Azerbaijani government towards authoritarianism and away from democracy.
During the past decade, Azerbaijan became a strategic partner with the European Union in energy, trade, security, and other areas and, along with other countries of South Caucasus region, is a member of the Council of Europe and a potential participant of Eastern Partnership initiative of EU. Thus, it is imperative for Azerbaijan to adopt the universal values and ideals of democracy, rule of law and peaceful transfer of political power through free expression of people's will the very fundamental principles shared by all civilized European countries.
Having term limits on the highest executive office in the country is an important safeguard against indefinite one-person rule in such a developing democracy as Azerbaijan, where the tradition of government change by election process is not firmly established yet. Creating environment for emergence of alternative forces capable of leading the country, a graceful exit and transfer of power to the next person without violence and political turmoil would be very important indicators of successful presidency by the current leadership. It is vital for Azerbaijan to establish such a precedent of lawful transition.
Removing presidential term limits will greatly diminish the future prospects for democracy and free elections in Azerbaijan, strengthen the authoritarian image of its government and damage the country's international standing. Such turn of events will be detrimental for the development of open and peaceful societies in that part of the world, contribute to the general instability in the region. These trends would negatively affect the partnership projects and energy cooperation between EU and Azerbaijan in the long run and the integration process of South Caucasus countries into European Union.
We appeal to the leadership of European Union, members of the EU Parliament, members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, representatives of civil society and media in Europe to consider our concerns and urge the Azerbaijani leadership to stop the process of removing term limits on presidency, thus demonstrating their commitment to the supremacy of democratic process, national statehood and civil society over the goal of keeping power in the hands of specific individuals or groups.
Petition against Removal of Term Limits on Presidency in Azerbaijan
We want to express our grave concerns at the recently initiated legislative process of amendments to the constitution of Azerbaijan Republic including the removal of two term limits on any person serving as president. The referendum scheduled to be held on 18th of March would be a notable step by Azerbaijani government towards authoritarianism and away from democracy.
During the past decade, Azerbaijan became a strategic partner with the European Union in energy, trade, security, and other areas and, along with other countries of South Caucasus region, is a member of the Council of Europe and a potential participant of Eastern Partnership initiative of EU. Thus, it is imperative for Azerbaijan to adopt the universal values and ideals of democracy, rule of law and peaceful transfer of political power through free expression of people's will the very fundamental principles shared by all civilized European countries.
Having term limits on the highest executive office in the country is an important safeguard against indefinite one-person rule in such a developing democracy as Azerbaijan, where the tradition of government change by election process is not firmly established yet. Creating environment for emergence of alternative forces capable of leading the country, a graceful exit and transfer of power to the next person without violence and political turmoil would be very important indicators of successful presidency by the current leadership. It is vital for Azerbaijan to establish such a precedent of lawful transition.
Removing presidential term limits will greatly diminish the future prospects for democracy and free elections in Azerbaijan, strengthen the authoritarian image of its government and damage the country's international standing. Such turn of events will be detrimental for the development of open and peaceful societies in that part of the world, contribute to the general instability in the region. These trends would negatively affect the partnership projects and energy cooperation between EU and Azerbaijan in the long run and the integration process of South Caucasus countries into European Union.
We appeal to the leadership of European Union, members of the EU Parliament, members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, representatives of civil society and media in Europe to consider our concerns and urge the Azerbaijani leadership to stop the process of removing term limits on presidency, thus demonstrating their commitment to the supremacy of democratic process, national statehood and civil society over the goal of keeping power in the hands of specific individuals or groups.
127 Signatures
-
Emin Milli
- Comments
- Send this letter to all the memebrs of the European parliaments, journalists and civil society leaders in your country or in Europe.
-
Leyla Ismayilova
-
Gubad Ibadoglu
-
Ilham
-
Ulvi Ismayil
- Comments
- No Term Limits for Presidency - No Europe - No Civilization - No 21st Century
-
Ilgar Mammadov, from Baku
- Comments
- Guys, unless you are foreign citizens of Azerbaijani descent, I urge you to stop this kind of petitions. We have to appeal to our own people in order to eliminate the cruel regime, and not to the EU or US. Believe me, Americans and Europeans laugh at such complaints every time. They do not understand why Azerbaijani activists address foreign elected representatives instead of dealing with the local ones OR talking directly to the people. They are right. We in the Respublikaзэ Alternativ (REAL) are trying to do the latter in the first, second, and third place. Let the EU and US watch the way we communicate with our people, and help if they want.
-
Tahsin Ashurov
-
Emin Milli
- Comments
- Just comment for Ilgar: I do agree with you that we need first of all to talk to people in Azerbaijan. This is what I promote personally as well. This is why we meet people in Baku and regions all the time. But I see no contradiction in appealing to international community at the same time. If you can not act on multidimensional levels then you are doomed to fail. I urge everyone to join this petition. You can be EU citizen, US citizen or Azerbaijani citizen. It does not matter. Important is to raise your voice against injustice in many different ways. I talked to some EU and US politicians directly, they do not share Ilgar Mamamdov's views.They did not laugh at anyone who raises his voice on international level. Azerbaijan should not be an isolated village. Azerbaijan must become part of civilized and democratic world! Global responsibility for local democracy!
-
Elmar Chakhtakhtinski
- Comments
- Alexandria, Virginia, United States of America
-
Hafiz Aliyev
-
L. Karimli
-
Adil Asgarov
- Comments
- Springfield, VA - USA
-
ELNUR MAJIDLI
-
Ilkin Alisoy
-
Anar
-
Vuqar Ahmadov
-
Anar Akhmedov
-
Shahla Aliguliyeva
- Comments
- This is a morality issue. Nobody is entitled to play with people's lives. The dinasty and the monarchy is NOT Azerbaijan's destiny! We only need to prove it now!
-
Samad Aslanov
-
Chinara
- Comments
- It is against of democracy
-
Emil Azeri
- Comments
- This law only serves the interest of Aliyev regime. Azerbaijan nation doesn't want any KING.
-
Nargiz Abiyeva
-
Avaz Hasanov
-
Fariz Huseynov
-
Tarana Mammadova
-
rena
- Comments
- В
-
Arzu Hajiyeva
-
Turkhan
-
Justas Sireika
-
Aytan Gahramanova
- Comments
- In globalaized world, the success of democracy in single country is impossible without external support of the established democracies (in addition to the internal democratization efforts). So, I am happy that such organisation as AZAD is there, and I belive it is a great value added to our work inside Azerbaijan.
-
Elchin
-
Gaziyev Zakir
-
Elkhan B.
-
Leyla Kazimova
-
Polad Hajiyev
- Comments
- Always near!!!
-
Ramiz I.
-
Naida
- Comments
- EU should use it leverage to influence the government of Azerbaijan. After all, we are not asking for the impossible. We are asking that a democratic formality be observed. I belive EU has interest, other than the oil interest, in having a neighbor which respects democracy and which is pleasant to have as a neighbor (not simply beneficial). EU should stand for its values.
-
Mariana Tiholaz
-
leila alieva
- Comments
- it is a shame that the country with highly educated population and traditions of modernization and democratization is moving in the wrong direction
-
Turgut Gambar
-
Maugli
-
Afiga Waechter
- Comments
- it is another absurdity of Absurdistan!!!
-
Hikmet Hadjy-zadeh
-
S
- Comments
- Say NO
-
Asif Huseynov
-
Jabiyev Ismayil
-
Ioana Ban
-
Rovshan Nazirov
-
Vusala
-
agsar asadi
- Comments
- В
-
127
Signatures! - View Signatures
- Sign Petition