Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend corr S. Ilhamgizi / Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's Baku visit will not change the problem regarding violation of Iran's Azerbaijani many-million population, the leader of Azerbaijan National Independence Party (ANIP), Etibar Mammadov, said to Trend on 23 August.
Iranian President was visiting Azerbaijan from 21 to 22 August. Several agreements and a memorandum were signed between Azerbaijani and Iranian Governments during the meeting.
According to Mammadov, observation of Iranian Azerbaijanis' rights is not under discussions and between Iran and Azerbaijan and Ahmadinejad's Baku visit will change nothing.
"The only problem in the bilateral relationships is violation of Iran's Azerbaijani population. Azerbaijani Government does not raise the issue. Despite improvement of official relationships between the countries, the state of our compatriots in Iran will not change," Mammadov said.
Azerbaijani Government at least should not impede putting the issue on protection of Iranian Azerbaijanis for discussion, the leader of the ANIP said. In this connection Mammadov mentioned recent events in Baku, namely dispersal of protest actions in front of Iranian Embassy by police.
"Azerbaijani Government should be in charge of protection of world Azerbaijanis' rights not depending in their residence. Unfortunately, the authorities do not take this duty. That should not affect Azerbaijan's official relationships with other countries, including Iran," Mammadov said.
Improvement of bilateral official relationships and Ahmadinejad's visit will not stop Iran secretly and openly assisting Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh issue, Mammadov said.
According to unofficial reports, Iran's indigenous Azerbaijani population makes up 35mln.
The leader of opposition ANIP is the deputy chairman of the International Democratic Union. ANIP is a party criticizing Iranian authorities for violation of the rights of the Azerbaijanis residing in the country.