The popular Austrian daily newspaper «Der Standard» published an article titled 'Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan requires a political solution.'
This article contains information about the meeting of Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Araz Azimov with Austrian journalists, his views on the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the economic potential of Azerbaijan, energy policy, and the role of Azerbaijan in the region.
In the preamble to the article in connection with Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the reader is informed that official Baku's position on this issue is very direct - principle of territorial integrity, that is, the return of occupied Azerbaijani lands. In this regard, Azimov said that Azerbaijan does not want military solution to the conflict, and is in favor of peacefully resolving the conflict.
However, OSCE Minsk Group has not yet reached any success over this issue. The compromise solution is not the liberation of the occupied territories, but rather joint recognition of the territory for both sides, through peaceful means of bringing the two sides together in one territory.
Azimov said that the military development in Azerbaijan is very important for the defense of the country and its people. Nonetheless, the political solution through diplomatic means based on international legal principles is far more favorable. He noted that Armenia with the population of three million people currently has 71,000 soldiers, whereas Azerbaijan with the population three times more has 63,000. This comparison is a good example to understand the true intentions of Armenia, which is merely militarism. Armenia goes as far as violating ceasefire agreement, killing innocent Azerbaijani civilians on daily basis.
Delaying the solution of the conflict is not only a problem for Azerbaijan, but can have a dreadful effect on Europe as well. Due to Azerbaijan’s great potential for the production and export of oil and gas, the escalation of the conflict can lead to a serious threat for Europe’s energy security. Azerbaijan has established economic and political ties with neighboring countries, all the way from Americas to Asia.
He added that Armenia should make the right conclusions, especially when Armenian citizens are leaving their own country due to poor economic and social conditions in Armenia. He believes this is tragic for Armenia’s future, since the main human capital, being the youth, sees no prospect for development in Armenia.
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