IRELI takes to the streets of Baku. Better known for its great parties and for its Gucci dressed leaders Azerbaijan's biggest youth group changes tactics

It has been better known for its great parties and for its Gucci dressed leaders, so the sight of members of IRELI demonstrating on the streets of Baku to protest at the recent decision of the French senate criminalising the Armenian genocide is a good indicator of feelings in Azerbaijan on this issue.

IRELI is a youth organisation that was founded soon after Ilham Aliev took over as president of Azerbaijan, and has close connections with the presidential administration. In some ways it is modelled on a similar organisation in Russia - "NASHI" in that it sees itself as a focal point for youth support for the president, but offers a space for those not wanting to get involved in party politics. Here however the comparisons end. NASHI has been in the past on the front line of pro Kremlin manifestations, providing the shock troops for many controversial events. IRELI has been much more genteel in its approach. But it seems things are changing.

Speaking to the media before the protest in front of the French Embassy, the Chairman of IRELI, Ceyhun Osmanli, who is also a member of parliament said that Azerbaijani youth don't want to see France as a co-chair country of the OSCE Minsk Group. He questioned the French company ‘Total' ownership of shares in the oil and gas fields of Azerbaijan. "We think expedient to review this issue within the international legislation", he said. Osmanli also proposed a boycott of French goods and said that the will not be using the services of French airlines anymore.

IRELI's protest can be dismissed as insignificant, yet of the many protests held in front of the French Embassy in Baku over the last couple of days, the appearance of IRELI may well be the most indicative of Baku's irritation with French policies.

source: commonspace.eu with news.az

photo: The protest of IRELI in front of the French Embassy in Baku on 24 January 2012 (photo courtesy of news.az)

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
Dozens participate in new Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue process as societies prepare for the signing of historic peace agreement

Dozens participate in new Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue process as societies prepare for the signing of historic peace agreement

The governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan have recently agreed the text of a historic peace agreement that ends years of animosity and warfare. The agreement is expected to be signed soon. LINKS Europe, which has a long history of engagement with the process of peace in the region, recently launched a new Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue format in the framework of the European Union's EU4Peace initiative. In the last two weeks dozens of Armenians and Azerbaijanis, including academics, students, civil society activists, journalists and other professionals, many of them young, were involved. The work is organised in five thematic groups focusing on peace and security, connectivity, environment, governance and gender and equality and in phase 2 of the project, which has just ended, around fifty participants took part in in-person and online meetings, and more than twenty others were involved indirectly. The Chairpersons of the five thematic groups met in Vilnius, 3-6 July to launch the third phase of the program. The five thematic groups are now working on separate reports, which are expected to be finished in November and presented to the two governments and other stakeholders. The reports will outline a vision, up to 2040.

Popular

Editor's choice
News
Dozens participate in new Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue process as societies prepare for the signing of historic peace agreement

Dozens participate in new Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue process as societies prepare for the signing of historic peace agreement

The governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan have recently agreed the text of a historic peace agreement that ends years of animosity and warfare. The agreement is expected to be signed soon. LINKS Europe, which has a long history of engagement with the process of peace in the region, recently launched a new Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue format in the framework of the European Union's EU4Peace initiative. In the last two weeks dozens of Armenians and Azerbaijanis, including academics, students, civil society activists, journalists and other professionals, many of them young, were involved. The work is organised in five thematic groups focusing on peace and security, connectivity, environment, governance and gender and equality and in phase 2 of the project, which has just ended, around fifty participants took part in in-person and online meetings, and more than twenty others were involved indirectly. The Chairpersons of the five thematic groups met in Vilnius, 3-6 July to launch the third phase of the program. The five thematic groups are now working on separate reports, which are expected to be finished in November and presented to the two governments and other stakeholders. The reports will outline a vision, up to 2040.