American politician and ex-congressman.
Den Berton: “There are many other reasons why we attach importance to relations with Azerbaijan. 96% of the population in Azerbaijan, where tolerance prevails, are Muslims. Israeli Ambassador in Azerbaijan Rafael Harpaz noted during his visit to the USA that tolerance in Azerbaijan can serve as an example for the whole world. Tolerance must be learned by all nations, while Azerbaijan has advanced far ahead in this field for 23 years of independence”. Source: armenia.az
Den Berton: “The US is a friend and ally of Azerbaijan, and we will continue this cooperation in the future.” Source: 1news.az
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Dan Berton: Azerbaijan is the democratic power of the Caucasus.
The American newspaper The Washington Times published an article by Dan Berton, the former congressman from Indiana, the chairman of the subcommittee on Europe and Eurasia and emerging threats of the US Congress Foreign Relations Committee, entitled “Azerbaijan deserves congratulations”,- reports Day.Az with reference to AzerTAc.
The author of the article writes that after conducting democratic presidential elections in Azerbaijan, the USА State Department subjected official Baku to criticism. According to Arturas Mankavicius, the international observer for the Central European Political Monitoring Group, “the norms of the Electoral Code of Azerbaijan corresponded to international standards.” D. Berton said, that as chairman of the subcommittee on Europe and Eurasia and emerging threats and as a private person, he had visited Azerbaijan several times and met President Ilham Aliyev and his predecessor, the father of the current president, Heydar Aliyev.
D. Berton emphasizes: “These presidents created a free society with a thriving economy, where the budget surplus is 50 billion dollars. Almost in all elections, especially in such young democratic countries as Azerbaijan, can happen technical mistakes, rare inconsistencies in the management of polling stations, which will cause dissatisfaction on the part of political parties”. But as the author writes, Azerbaijan deserves congratulations, and not criticism, in connection with the progress achieved after the proclamation of independence. Azerbaijan is the democratic power of the Caucasus.
“”Irresponsible statements” by the State Department not only harm Azerbaijan, but also in a long-term order will create problems not only for our friends in this region, but for the United States itself”,- concludes D. Berton.
Source: news.day.az
Dan Berton: I will work hard to make the friendship between Azerbaijan and the US stronger.
The largest non-profit organization, the Azerbaijani-American Alliance, announced the appointment of an ex-congressman to head the Council.
As transfers AZE.az with the reference to the press service of AAA, the Council of the Azerbaijan-American Alliance will be headed by the former congressman of the State of Indiana Dan Berton. As it is said in the report, Dan Berton has worked for many years in the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives of the US Congress and has sufficient experience for this post.
Dan Berton has visited Azerbaijan, the congressman is familiar with the situation in the republic and is making active efforts to strengthen cooperation between our countries. The AAA recalls that in 2005 the congressman spoke in the House of Representatives and honored the memory of the victims of the Khojaly tragedy.
The Alliance’s message says: “The Azerbaijani-American Alliance is proud that such a worthy person, a prominent specialist will lead the organization. Berton has a long experience in the sphere of international relations of the United States, and he is in friendly relations with world leaders.
Mr. Berton’s experience, his interaction with Azerbaijan, make him as the ideal leader of the organization”. Dan Berton in connection with the new appointment stated: “It’s a great honor for me. I thank the founder of the Alliance Anar Mammadov for his confidence. I will work hard for the friendship between Azerbaijan and the US to become stronger. “
Source: aze.az
The key lobbyist of Azerbaijan in Washington, Dan Berton refuses to further defend the interests of this country after not receiving his pay for a year
Ex-congressman of the United States, member of the House of Representatives of the Republican Party from Indiana Dan Berton is no longer going to work for the interests of official Baku, since almost a year he has not got his salary. It was written in the website of the Baku bureau of Radio Liberty.
In particular, D.Berton wrote in his letter addressed to James Fabiani, the head of the company lobbying the US Azerbaijan Alliance: “For the past year neither you nor Anar have contacted me. Accept this letter as resignation from the post of chairman of the Azerbaijani-American alliance.”
According to the publication, he resigned from the post of chairman of the Azerbaijani-American Alliance (AAA), led by the son of the Minister of Transport of Azerbaijan Ziya Mamedov – Anar Mammadov. It is noted that over 4 years Mammadov spent over $ 12 million to lobbyists in the US.
Напомним, что в сентябре 2015 года азербайджанские СМИ сообщили о том, что из-за финансовых проблем Анар Мамедов свернул деятельность азербайджанской лоббистской организации «Альянс Америка-Азербайджан» в США, закрыв офис организации в Вашингтоне и официально распустив коллектив. По информации азербайджанского сайта «Хаккин.аз», у Анара Мамедова образовались большие долги, в результате чего, «сенаторов США больше нечем кормить…».
It is recalled that in September 2015, Azerbaijani media reported that, due to financial problems, Anar Mammadov curtailed the activities of the Azerbaijani lobby organization “Alliance America-Azerbaijan” in the US, closing the office of the organization in Washington and officially dismissing the team. According to the Azeri website “Hakkin.az”, Anar Mammadov had large debts, as a result of which, “the US senators can not be fed…”
Source: panorama.am
Harut Sasounian: Deception of Azerbaijani authorities can set up former lobbyist Dan Berton against Baku
“A former Congressman stops working for a foreign client after not receiving his pay for a year! Here is news that you don’t hear every day”,- wrote the publisher and editor of The California Courier, Harut Sassounian, commenting on the fact of the resignation of Dan Berton as chairman of the US-based propaganda organization America-Azerbaijan Alliance. Sassounian’s article was published on the website of The Armenian Weekly.
“What were his Azeri masters thinking? How could they cheat one of their agents in Washington? This is a good way to get your lobbyist turn against you! Lobbyists promote a client’s interests, not because they support its cause, but to make money. Personal financial gain was the only reason why Burton was backing one of the world’s most repressive and corrupt governments. When the money stopped, there was no longer a reason for him to promote Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s dictatorial regime”,- Sassounian noted.
It is noted that the America-Azerbaijan Alliance was founded by tycoon Anar Mammadov, a 34-year-old billionaire playboy. Interestingly, Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump had lent his name for a substantial fee to a luxurious hotel built by Mammadov’s company in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Further, Sassounia cites information about the scandal surrounding Berton’s name, exposed by the editorial staff of Radio Liberty. “Burton’s resignation follows months of speculation about the fate of the America-Azerbaijan Alliance, a prominent pillar of a broader Azerbaijani lobbying campaign in the United States to portray Azerbaijan as a stable energy and security partner for the West. The lobby involves both private and state money”,- he added.
Baku’s detractors accuse President Ilham Aliyev’s government and its proxies of trying to paper over an abysmal human rights record with “caviar diplomacy”, using gifts, vacations, and other expensive incentives to gain friends and curry favor with foreign officials.
Ilham Aliyev recently removed broad powers from the Transport Ministry, overseen by Mammadov’s father, suggesting the family’s influence in the government is waning.
Several reports in the Azerbaijani media since August have cited unidentified sources as saying that Mammadov planned to shutter the America-Azerbaijan Alliance due to financial difficulties amid the broader economic crisis Azerbaijan is grappling with due to plunging energy prices. Over the past five years, the Azerbaijan America Alliance has poured a total of $12.3 million into U.S. lobbying efforts, according to the public-interest website Opensecrets.org, having wined and dined Washington’s elite and pushed Baku’s interests in meetings with senior members of Congress. The organization, which is not formally affiliated with the Azerbaijani state but has hewn closely to the Aliyev government’s line, has continued this spending, paying $1.46 million for U.S. lobbying services in 2015, most of which went to Fabiani & Company,according to public lobbying disclosures”.
It is said in material, that the group spent $430,000 for its 2012 dinner, which was attended by then-House of Representatives speaker John Boehner and 15 other members of Congress, including Burton,according to a 2013 filing under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). Burton was named chairman of the Azerbaijan America Alliance in February 2013, a month after he left office after a 30-year career in Congress.
As Berton himself said in an interview with Radio Liberty, Fabiani introduced him to Mamedov. Earlier, Radio Liberty’s investigations revealed that Anar Mammadov’s business interests are connected with the Ministry of Transport headed by his father.
“Last May, I ran into Burton in the lobby of a New York hotel. I complained to him about his ongoing efforts on behalf of Azerbaijan and his votes against resolutions on the Armenian Genocide during his tenure in Congress”,- concludes Harut Sassounian.
It is recalled, that on March 2, Radio Liberty reported that the ex-congressman of the United States, a member of the House of Representatives from the Republican Party from Indiana, Dan Berton is no longer going to work for the interests of official Baku, since a year he can not get his salary. In particular, D. Berton, in his letter addressed to the head of the company, lobbying the US Azerbaijan Alliance, James Fabiani, wrote: “For the past year, neither you nor Anar have been in contact with me. Accept this letter as resignation from the post of chairman of the Azerbaijani-American alliance. “
Source: panorama.am