Interview with Azerbaijani MP Elman Mammadov, former head of Khojaly city administration.
Q: Azerbaijani parliamentarians voice necessity for Turkey to recognize the Khojaly genocide. How real does their dream sound?
A: Turkey should certainly recognize the Khojaly genocide and then, other parliaments of the world countries should do the same. Thus, Turkey will not just restore the historical reality but will also gain a heavy lever to oppose the so-called “Armenian genocide”. The noteworthy fact here is that the Mexican Parliament forestalled the Turkish Parliament in this regard by recognizing the Khojaly genocide.
Q: Does the adoption of so-called “Armenian genocide” by parliaments of several countries give a precedent to adopt analogous documents like the recognition of the Khojaly genocide?
A: Of course, Azerbaijan should make efforts and urge world parliaments to recognize the Khojaly genocide. Meanwhile, the work is under way with Islamic states in this direction. As for the Senate’s decision on the criminalization of denial of genocides, I would like to note that if the Armenian side decides to dig up real events that happened in 1915, it will find out that the perpetrator of then events was the very France.
This country is required to reimburse material and moral losses that it caused to Armenia. Since, the country which armed and incited Armenians against Turkey at the beginning of XX century was none other than France. Therefore, France is the first country accountable for 1915 events.
Q: How do you think what measures Turkey can take to prevent the recognition of so-called ‘Armenian genocide’ by other world parliaments?
A: Turkey can break this process in the world by several means. One of them is to recognize the Khojaly genocide by the Turkish Parliament. Turkey should recognize this genocide and reach the French Senate’s recognition as well. In this case, each time when the Armenian side tries to bring their fabricated genocide to the agenda of the Parliament, Turkey will bring forth the Khojaly genocide, as well. And here, differently from the “Armenian genocide”, Khojaly genocide has thousands of evidences based on many documents.
Another active tool against the “Armenian genocide” can be Turkish citizens of Armenian origin and Armenian citizens living there. This is a very heavy fact confirming the recent statement of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying that hundred thousands of Armenians live in Turkey. So, Turkey can expel Armenians from the country, which could be a very strong pressure on Armenia.
Moreover, entrepreneurs of Armenian origin living in Turkey and businessmen of different nations formed close economic relations with Armenia. During just one year, over 18,000 vehicles with refrigerated goods passed from Turkey to Armenian via Georgia. So, it turns out that Armenia, having occupied part of the Azerbaijani lands, can survive due to the two Muslim countries – Turkey and Iran. Therefore, Turkey should hamper the cargo traffic to Armenia. Given all of this, I would like to stress that Turkey has strong levers to exert pressure on Armenia.
Q: What has caused dissatisfactory statements by the Turkish media concerning Azerbaijan, saying that Baku allegedly doesn’t make enough counter steps regarding France?
A: Let me note that no sanctions were made against the French campaign in Turkey itself. There was not even a protest action in front the French Embassy in Turkey. But in Azerbaijan, on the contrary, the protests against France came from the Presidential Administration, Parliament, MPs, media of the country, as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations. Several daily actions were held outside the French Embassy in Baku.
Moreover, I would like to note that the situation in France regarding the adoption of the bill that criminalizes the denial of genocides remains ambiguous. As you know, a group of French senators appealed to the Constitution Court to assess this bill and measure its conformity with the main legislation. Assume that the French Court abolishes the law. Will this process end too? No, it will not. In other words, the Armenian side will not stop there and will continue to pursue its goal regarding the adoption of this bill. Therefore, I think that Turkey should take fundamental and heavy action to counteract this process.
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