Interview with political scientist Fikrat Sadikhov.
Q: Does the statement of the Foreign Minister of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing states adopted by results of the ministerial meeting of the foreign ministers of the member-states of this international organization in Vilnius contain principal positions?
A: The statement adopted by the Minsk Group co-chairing states, as well as the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia by results of the ministerial meeting of the OSCE states held in Vilnius was a civilized appeal for the peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict. But, in fact, there is nothing new in this statement, since similar statements have been practically voiced throughout the whole period of formation of the OSCE Minsk Group. In other words, the statement adopted in Vilnius lacks significant elements which could promote the conflict settlement. However, considering the fact that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs are the leading states, they could have made more radical statements promoting the resolution of the conflict.
Q: Is Ireland, the country which is to chair the OSCE from 1 January 2012, able to attain achievements in process of Karabakh settlement?
A: Every year Azerbaijani side seeks innovations from the country which starts fulfilling its duties as a OSCE chairman-in-office. Unfortunately, the OSCE activity whoever it is chaired by lacks positive results related to the peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict. Their attempts for maximal rapprochement in positions of Azerbaijan and Armenia are unsuccessful because Azerbaijan has already made maximal compromises and expects the same steps from the Armenian side.
Q: Is the view of the Ireland foreign minister Eimon Gilmor that the Karabakh conflict has ‘national roots’ true?
A: Probably, any separatism, including Armenia has definite common principles. For example, North Ireland separatism has existed for already many years. But official London actively suppresses all the attempts, promoting the separation of North Ireland from Great Britain. As is known, a large contingent of British troops was deployed in Belfast under Premier Margaret Thatcher to suppress the acts of violence associated with separatism in Northern Ireland. And the British troops are still there. It means that if we compare the conflicts in Northern Ireland and Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan also have a right to deploy troops to liberate the occupied lands.
Q: Are the politicians including the Ireland Foreign Minister right in equating conflicts in different parts of the world and the attempts to apply routine methods in their settlement?
A: All similar conflicts, especially separatist movements in different countries, have their differences. Every conflict has its specifics and peculiarities. As is known, Northern Ireland has been raising its separation from Great Britain for already a long time. Great Britain, in turn, deployed its troops there and suppressed the rebels, eradicating all radical elements in separatist movement. Great Britain has practically neutralized the Northern Ireland Republican Army which was considered a terrorist organization. If such experience is viewed as acceptable, Azerbaijan is right to state possible military solution of the separatism in its territory.
If the world community, primarily, the leading states, provide a card blanche to Azerbaijan for the resolution of the Karabakh conflict by the Northern Ireland method, I think it won’t be the worst variant which could have been used in the conflict settlement.
Q: Is there a political variant of application of the method of resolution of the Northern Ireland problem to Karabakh conflict?
A: Northern Ireland problem, despite growing less acute, has not yet been settled completely. As there is a military contingent in the region, shootings are heard from time to time and extremist forces act there. But if we speak about its application in the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, at the initial stage that is after liberation of the occupied lands, the issue of neutralization of the most radical elements of the current poppet regime in Nagorno Karabakh could first be raised. The negotiation process, creation of joint commissions and communities should follow. And finally it is necessary to attain the final resolution of the conflict and ensure territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
Unlike Great Britain, Azerbaijan will certainly find it difficult to realize such steps, since while Britain, as one of the leading countries of the world, faced no hindrances from any states, there are many obstacles on Azerbaijan’s way. For example, the Minsk Group states, different forces not interest in the resolution of the conflict and some neighboring states. Certainly, Azerbaijan is not Great Britain. But Azerbaijan is able to use the method Great Britain used while solving the Northern Ireland issue.
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