"I DID THE RIGHT THING"

Moldovan Ombudsman Aurelia Grigoriu has encountered real threats after making a speech at the Armenian parliament. At an international conference in Yerevan, organized by the Armenian Constitutional Court, Grigoriu said that Armenia had occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan's territories and had committed an act of genocide against peaceful civilians. The enraged hosts refused to see the guest off to the airport and then even tried to prevent her from leaving the country until she apologized. Having returned home, Grigoriu faced the possibility of losing her job. At the insistence of the Armenian community in Moldova, her issue was discussed at the Moldovan parliament but it was decided that she would continue to fulfil her duties.

Grigoriu herself considers that Armenia's hysterical reaction to her statement only confirms the truthfulness of her remarks. Despite numerous threats of reprisals coming from the Armenian side, Grigoriu did not recant her remarks. She has kindly agreed to speak to an R+ correspondent to clarify these matters.

- Ms Grigoriu, it has been a few weeks since you made your famous speech in Yerevan yet the commotion it caused has not subsided. How do you assess the situation now? Had you such an opportunity now would you change anything?

- People in Moldova have had a mixed reaction to my speech. Many people thank me for my principled position, courage and openness. Many others, who do not even understand what the speech was about, criticize me. I do not understand the official position of the Moldovan authorities. However, I am very happy to be back home with my family and friends. As for whether or not I would change anything, probably not. The only thing I do not want to happen is my speech having a negative impact on Moldova's relations with other countries.

- Armenia continues to accuse you of a political bias. They say that you voiced official Baku's position when you said that Armenia occupied the fifth of Azerbaijan's territories. This is what happens every time somebody from outside says something that is not to Armenia's liking. To what do you attribute this categorical refusal to accept an alternative viewpoint?

- Let me emphasize that I am not a politician and I am not going to make political assessments and conclusions. I am a human rights defender. All my life I have been defending human rights and I will continue to do so. It is my firm belief that in order to eradicate rights violations it is necessary to first of all identify these violations and speak about them openly, without covering them up by diplomatic language. Let diplomats and politicians deal with diplomacy and politics. Rights activists need to work to end rights violations. I am happy that through my speech I contributed, albeit rather belatedly, to the start of a dialogue between ordinary Armenians and Azerbaijanis regarding the Karabakh conflict.

As for the bias, I think this is only asserted by those who are only guided by money and personal gain in their activities. I have other principles to follow - justice, lawfulness and protection of human rights and I try to uphold these principles. To accuse me of bias means not to know me at all. This is not the first time I have demonstrated my principled position. Ill-wishers can only do as much as assess and label other people's actions through their own prism.

- Moldovan Parliament Speaker Igor Corman described your actions as "a serious mistake". What do you think about such remarks?

- I do not want to comment on the Moldovan parliament speaker's remarks. As a person of principles, I do not understand the policy of double standards, to say the least. On 11 July 2013, the parliamentary commission for discussing my speech held a session. You are familiar with their assessment. I have not familiarized myself with the commission's decision yet. Judging from the speech of the commission chairman, it follows that the issue of my resignation was not raised. It was however mentioned that by addressing the conference in Yerevan with the speech Grigoriu had showed political ignorance and myopia. I absolutely do not understand this kind of assessment.

- Aurelia Grigoriu's position does not agree with Moldova's position, said Vadim Mishin, the chairman of the parliamentary commission for human rights.

- I do not understand how such statements can be made. Here is my question: can this be called a politically sound and astute statement coming from a politician?

- Azerbaijan welcomed your speech in Yerevan, describing your action as an "act of courage" and the "prevailing of justice". What do you think about Azerbaijan's support?

-I am very grateful to my colleague, Elmira Suleymanova, who, having learnt that I was being held in Yerevan, decisively condemned Armenia's actions and asked international agencies to support me. As you know, it was only thanks to an intervention by the Romanian consul and the immediate actions of the Georgian consul did I manage to leave Armenia. I am also very grateful to the Azerbaijani people, my friends and all the people I do not even know who supported me during my stay in Yerevan. These people continue to support me. Unfortunately, I did not get any support from my Armenian counterpart, Anatoliy Muntyan, who during my forced stay in Yerevan, instead of providing help, condemned my position. I am also grateful to hundreds of people from various countries who supported me morally on my Facebook account.

- Is it possible that any continuing pressure may affect your position and further activities in the South Caucasus and your work on the human rights violations that occur as a result of armed conflicts?

- After what happened to me in Armenia and continues to happen to this day, I am more than convinced that I did the right thing. I hope that it is necessary to continue informing the world about the mass violations of human rights in the South Caucasus. It is necessary to recognize all these violations and do everything possible to prevent them from recurring in the future.

- Baku is not satisfied with the insufficient attention paid by European agencies to the problem of refugees and internally displaced persons in the South Caucasus on the whole and, in Karabakh, in particular. What do you think about this and what should be done to attract greater international attention to the problem?

- It is necessary to discuss these problems at all international events; to condemn actions of the violators and urge observance of human rights. However, of course it is necessary that these problems are not raised by Baku alone. All progressive people should be involved in the process.

My Yerevan speech about human rights violations in the zones of frozen conflict was the first and I hope not the last attempt by an ombudsman to attract the attention of the international community to this problem. I do hope my speech will facilitate the advancement of human rights and the restoration of the rights of millions of refugees.