Interview with independent MP Fuad Muradov, a member of the Azerbaijan-France inter-parliamentary friendship group.
Q: What prompted the visit to Baku by a group of French senators at a time of tension between Paris and the Turkic world over the adoption by the French Senate of a bill criminalizing the denial of genocide, including Armenian claims of genocide?
A: It's worth noting that the French members of the Azerbaijan-France inter-parliamentary friendship group were among those senators who protested against the criminalization of the denial of genocide and appealed to the French Constitutional Council to consider the adopted document as contradictory to human rights.
Therefore, in this situation, Azerbaijan should make the French senators and the French side as a whole aware of the danger of the current bill to the whole region. Besides, this visit enables Baku to show its position directly. Azerbaijan also gets an opportunity to raise awareness in France that the bill may harm its image as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group.
Q: In general, what impressions did the Azerbaijani side get from the first meeting with the French senators?
A: The French senators visiting Azerbaijan stated quite openly that this bill will first of all harm France itself. They also said this during the discussion of the bill in the French Senate and while talking to local media.
Q: What is the goal of the Azerbaijani side in forming contacts with the French senators?
A: First off all, the goal is to introduce the real situation in the region to the French parliamentarians at the highest level. Of course, this issue is not connected just with this visit. The Azerbaijani side is regularly doing this work, therefore, it’s no surprise that the French Senate has our supporters as well.
Q: Turkish and Azerbaijani media have criticized what they described as an inadequate reaction from Baku to the adoption of the bill by the French parliament. To what extent is this criticism justified?
A: Azerbaijani society at all levels voiced a very clear, precise position on the issue. This position was expressed by the the president, parliament, and public and non-governmental organizations of Azerbaijan. Despite the fact that Azerbaijan is a small country, part of whose territory is occupied, the country has taken all diplomatic steps within its capacity. As for Turkey, as a large country it has more effective levers, some of which have already been used against France. Turkey is a member of NATO, has multi-branched economic relations with France and can take advantage of them. Therefore, I think that Azerbaijan for now has done enough regarding France.
Q: How reasonable would the removal of France as a co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group be?
A: As you know, this group involves 11 countries, including Turkey and Germany. I think that these very countries can discuss the withdrawal of France from the co-chairmanship. Azerbaijan, in its turn, should try to substitute France with a neutral country during the discussion of this issue, since France lost its neutrality in resolving the Karabakh conflict after the Senate adopted the bill that criminalizes the denial of genocides, including the so-called "Armenian genocide". And from now on, the world community will harbour suspicion about France's action to resolve the conflict. In other words, France has lost its position as a neutral country in the eyes of the international community.
Q: From now on, what steps should Azerbaijan and Turkey take to prevent the recognition of Armenian claims of "genocide" by the parliaments of other countries?
A: It should be stated that the Armenian side will continue this process. It is not limited to the bill adopted by the French Senate. The Armenian side has a long-term plan to have the so-called “Armenian genocide” recognized at the maximum level. Its list includes 15-16 countries, where they plan to achieve recognition. In other words, in the foreseeable future, until 2015, Armenians will "engage in" the realization of this plan.
It’s difficult to prevent it. However, Azerbaijan and Turkey, as a response, should bring the Khojaly genocide to the agenda of world parliaments. Azerbaijan and Turkey have no option but to form a joint struggle against the “Armenian genocide”.
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