Interview with Zahid Oruj, member of Milli Majlis, the Parliament of Azerbaijan.
Q: The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs have said in their next statement that “the contact line cannot be an eternal barrier between neighboring states.” What is the reason for increasing statements from the co-chairs that it is unacceptable to maintain the status quo is Karabakh conflict?
A: The current statement by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs is different from previous ones to some extent because if in recent past they were coming up with various proposals and a model of the conflict resolution trying to bring the conflicting parties to the compromise. But now amid increased likelihood of resumed hostilities in the region, they issue statements calling the parties to avoid escalation.
Worthy of note is that Armenia has stored the bulk of its weapons in Nagorno-Karabakh over the past period to conceal its large quantities of weapons from the OSCE mission and shape a formal opinion that it complies with arms control agreement for the South Caucasus.
Moreover, Armenia has begun to hold military exercises in occupied lands of Azerbaijan more often. Possibly, some believe this is an integral part of information war or an attempt to take preventive measures amid growing military, diplomatic and economic potential of Azerbaijan.
However, reportedly, Armenia seeks to make provocative action on the contact line of troops to provoke Azerbaijan to resume hostilities. That is why the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs make unsuccessful calls to the parties to withdraw snipers from the contact line of troops. Of course, these calls apply to the Armenian side first and foremost because it is Armenia who accumulates weapons in the occupied lands which kill Azerbaijani civilians.
In other words, the world community saw maintaining status quo in Karabakh conflict as it major accomplishment earlier. But now it becomes clear that unresolved conflict may deal a blow to their strategic goals in the region.
Q: Does it mean that world community, which solved a number of similar problems earlier, has more interest to resolve Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?
A: I believe a time has come when the world community has begun to pay more attention to resolution of the Karabakh problem. At current situation unresolved Karabakh conflict begins to deal a real blow to Russia’s interests as ongoing conflict enables the West to maintain its interests in the region.
On the other hand, the West is aware that preserving status quo is fraught with unpredictable consequences, since resumption of war can cause irreparable damage to their strategic interests.
I say this once again that the status quo should be changed for this reason. However, the main point is that in whose favor this status quo will change. Resolving Karabakh conflict in a way not suiting Azerbaijan will pave a way for a new war. This is inevitable.
Following French President Nicolas Sarkjozy’s recent visit to the South Caucasus, some observers said that France begins to play the role of mediator in the Karabakh conflict settlement.
Q: Meanwhile, President Dmitriy Medvedev said recently at a meeting with his Armenian counterpart in Moscow that Russia would continue to play an active role in resolving the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Can active mediation of Moscow or Paris play a significant role in resolving the Karabakh conflict?
A: Once while implementing his economic reforms Chinese politician Deng Xiaoping stated that a result is more important for him. In the meantime, he uttered his already famous aphorism that “it does not matter what color is the cat, so long as it catches mice.” Azerbaijan adheres to a similar stance in resolving Karabakh conflict.
Over the long period which Karabakh conflict has remained unresolved, different countries came up with various proposals in a bid to boost their position in the region, or use their intensified efforts to put pressure on either side of the conflict. Much effort was made by the U.S., Russia and France at various times. Russia, as evidenced by secret documents, in order to neutralize accusations from the West that it intends to occupy the South Caucasus, has begun to arrange meetings between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan since 2008 despite it is not interested in resolving the Karabakh conflict.
At that time, even the staunchest skeptics hoped that Moscow’s active mediation will help return at least three or four occupied districts of Azerbaijan and an option of the Karabakh conflict resolution which would serve the interests of Russia will emerge.
It was felt that President Medvedev intends to take certain steps in this direction. Perhaps Medvedev believes that the resolution of the Karabakh conflict will weaken Western influence in the South Caucasus, giving Russia a distinctive status in the region.
However, these intentions were never realized as Russian political elite did not change their stance. Therefore, Moscow is irritated that at increased efforts by Paris to solve the Karabakh conflict. Moscow believes that solving Karabakh conflict through mediation of Western countries means a blow to Russia's interests.
Nevertheless, I believe that Azerbaijan will be able to change entrenched situation in the region, the system of relations of the great powers towards the region and thereby achieve a solution to the problem in its favor in the near future.
News.Az
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