The text of Azerbaijan television's interview with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
— Mr. President, You held next meeting with the Armenian president. You noticed at the summit of leaders of Turkic-speaking countries in Nakhchivan that the negotiations are in the last phase at present. What can You say about the results of today's meeting?
— The negotiations are conducted for long years. Unfortunately there are no results yet. I noticed that the negotiations are in the last phase and decisive resolutions should be passed in this phase. Our position remains unchanged. The Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh must be resolved within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. The Armenian armed forces must be withdrawn from the occupied lands of Azerbaijan. Our internally displaced compatriots must return to their homeland. Our position is based on the norms of international law. UN Security Council has passed four resolutions. There are decisions and resolutions of other international organizations as well. Our position is very strong from the standpoint of international law.
There is positive dynamics in the negotiations. If there was no dynamics the negotiations wouldn“t be conducted until now. We keep loyalty to the negotiations because there is a progress in the negotiation process despite its difficulties. Very important issues were agreed over the past
A feature of the negotiations is that nothing is coordinated before the coordination of everything. It means that we have to solve all issues. Only then we can approach the large peace agreement. The territorial integrity of Azerbaijan must be fully restored and Armenians living in Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijanis to return to Nagorno Karabakh must live under the conditions of high autonomy status. It is an approach embracing the world's most positive experience at the same time. It is very democratic approach and the issue can be resolved only by this way.
There was big interest in the Chisinau talks by the region and entire world because everybody knows that the negotiations are in the last phase and it can lead to the positive results if the Armenians have constructive position particularly. I would like to say once again that our position remains unchanged. We defended our position in all processes. But unfortunately the Chisinau meeting was unfruitful. But I have to notice that there is little progress in some issues. Unfortunately the parties couldn“t reach agreement on the main issues because of
No positive tendency is expected in the region before the solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict. If somebody thinks that some of the existing problems in the region could be resolved, I am skeptical about that, because the main problem, the main issue of the region is Nagorno Karabakh. At first, this conflict must be resolved and then other issues will find their solution.
— Mr. President, Turkey and Armenia are planning to sign protocols for normalization of relations on October 10 and the Nagorno Karabakh issue was not included in these protocols. What position does Azerbaijan keep on that issue?
— Azerbaijan has made statements on its position for many times. Azerbaijan demonstrated its position in April when this issue came to agenda. I also mentioned this issue in my speeches. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an official statement. Our position is that we don“t interfere in the relations established or to be established between other countries. We consider it as unacceptable. At the same time we don”t wish and allow others to interfere in our domestic affairs too. Azerbaijan has never interfered in the domestic affairs of other countries or in the relations between others. This is the first issue.
It was not a secret that the main and only reason of the closing of Turkish-Armenian borders was the occupation of Kelbajar region of Azerbaijan. The Turkish-Armenian borders were closed for that reason and remain so until now. Naturally the borders can be opened only after the lifting of that reason. This is our position. At the same time, the Turkish leaders also demonstrated their positions on that issue for many times. I hope that this position will dominate and this factor will be taken into consideration in the protocols and during their implementation.
You mentioned it and according to the reports we received, the protocols don“t consider the solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict. But the Turkish leaders said in their official statements and during the private meetings that the parliament will not approve the protocols without the solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict and the borders will not be opened. The Turkish President said it, Prime Minister and Parliament's Speaker, as well as the Foreign Minister of Turkey said it and we believe them. We believe that it will be so. In this case the peace can be established in the region. In this case all regional countries can successfully use this situation and solve all problems between them. Only in this case large-scale cooperation can be established in the region.
Sometimes there are such ideas that the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations and opening the borders could promote the solution of Nagorno Karabakh problem. I don“t share these ideas because I consider that if the Turkish-Armenian relations are normalized before the solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Armenia will make its position harder in the negotiation process. Armenia will try to introduce it as own political and diplomatic success and very likely it will keep harder and unacceptable position during the negotiations. It is quite arguable to say that. The developments experienced in the different phases of negotiation process afford ground to say that.
I am absolutely sure that the two processes “the processes of solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict and opening of Turkish-Armenian borders should be parallel. There is a connection, if not official, but unofficial connection between these processes. This connection should be saved and the two issues should be resolved in parallel and at the same time. Otherwise the
The friendly and fraternal relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan are in very high level and I would like to say once again that I believe in their promises. I believe in the statements of Turkish leaders and I am sure that the Turkish-Armenian borders will not be opened until the solution of Nagorno Karabakh problem.
— Mr. President, the Armenian president has faced with insult and pressure by Armenian Diaspora during his foreign trip recently. What caused that?
— We live in this region and know its problems very well. We know its history and current realities and of course, it is easier for us to make prognosis that politicians or government officials living outside the regions. The Armenian president faced with hard pressures during his foreign trip. We don“t completely understand the goal of that trip. As you know, the date of signing the protocols between Turkey and Armenia was scheduled long time ago and coordinated between them. I think the meetings with Diaspora representatives had formal character because the text of protocols is evident and signing ceremony was scheduled and there is no opportunity to change it. It was formal, but an indication of itself. Look, what the normalization process to lead.
Armenia almost faces with a political crisis. The coalition collapsed in Armenia, relations with Diaspora were damaged. For the first time the Armenian president faced with pressure by his compatriots abroad. At the same time, this normalization is not accepted univocally in the Azerbaijani society too. It is a reality. The Azerbaijani society, an absolute majority think that the Turkish-Armenian borders should be opened alongside with the solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict. This issue causes large-scale debates in Turkey too and these debates are held in tension sometimes. There is nothing yet, but look how negative results it causes. There is a serious protest against this issue in Armenia. The public opinion of Azerbaijan is also known. This issue is not accepted univocally in Turkey too. But there is nothing yet. The approval of protocols by the parliament is uncertain. Therefore every action should be analyzed and forecasted in the region. The prognoses should be based on the realities. We have to do so that all problems in the region to be solved. But sometimes we see that the problems in the region are deepened. First reports in the Armenian newspapers in February about the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations followed only goal: to damage the Turkish-Azerbaijani relations. Today the continuation of Turkish-Armenian process led to very serious results in Armenia. It intensifies domestic tensions and damages Armenian-Diaspora relations.
— Mr. President, Armenia was isolated for its aggressive policy and if the Turkish-Armenian borders are opened, will it lead to the economic revival of Armenia?
— Armenia was in hard economic condition before the crisis as well and economic prospects are not heartwarming there. It has limited market and local production was not developed and Armenia is not an attractive country for the investors. The geographical situation, particularly closing of borders with Turkey and Armenia created great economic problems for the country. It was intensified during the crisis. The country's economic rate fell about 20 % this year. Therefore it will be difficult to improve the economic situation.
The opening of Turkish-Armenian borders has spiritual character mostly. But it can lead to the economic improvement as well. This is like oxygen mask. It can ease breath, but doesn“t create normal life.
— Mr. President, this question is not related to the subject, but is interesting. It is related to the gas cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during his visit to Azerbaijan in May that the existing gas price is not fair. What work is done for making this price fair?
— You are right. The Prime Minister said it in Baku. He said the prices were not fair and we try to establish normal prices. Our intention and position are based on the international experience. The purchase-sale relations between us should be resolved on the basis of international experience. There are three main issues in the gas talks. The first issue is the price, which should be fair. We are expected to solve the fair price issue. The second one is related to the volume of gas to be exported to Turkey. This year 7 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas was transported to Turkey. It was exported on the unfair price.
What part of the gas produced in the second phase of Shahdeniz project, as well as produced by the State Oil Company in other fields will be delivered to Turkey? We have to determine that. It is important for us and other countries as well to diversify the export. We achieved it in oil sector. Our oil is delivered to the world and European markets via different ways. We have to use all existing gas pipelines. The Turkish market is very interesting for us.
Azerbaijan is establishing gas cooperation with Russia and I believe it can be very successful cooperation. Iran's proposals are also negotiated. Iranian market is also interesting for us.
Azerbaijan and EU make efforts to deliver Azerbaijani gas to the European markets via Turkey. Very serious bilateral talks are conducted with the EU countries, including Greece, Italy, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary. Azerbaijan has enough gas resources. This is our great resources. Only minimum-confirmed gas resources are 2 trillion cubic meters. But real volume is twofold larger.
We have to export this gas. It demands large investments. 20 billion dollars investment was put in the second phase of Shahdeniz project. We and our partners have to know where we sell the gas. What tariff terms, price and volume will it has.
The tariffs are third issue. It also has to be fair like the price and to be coordinated with other tariffs. Unfortunately we don“t reach agreement with Turkey on these three issues so far. We have good will in the negotiations. The issues can be resolved on the basis of international experience. Then Azerbaijan will export larger volume of natural gas to Turkey.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
