Interviews with Jamil Hasanli, Azerbaijani MP and famous historian.
Q: How do you assess the decision of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the US Congress that approved the draft resolution on the fictional “Armenian genocide”, as a historian?
A: First of all, if the “genocide” was real, why didn’t the US lawmakers recognize it before? The 20’s, 30’s and 40’s were closer in terms of the time to “genocide” recognized by the Armenian side. In those years it would have been possible to define the absence or existence of such “genocide” more realistically. In the 20s, the US Presidential Administration, the Congress and the Senate of this country were more pro-Armenian.
US President Hoover (Herbert Hoover) led the US administration in 1929-1933) led the program of rendering assistance to Armenia earlier, in the 19-20s. At that time he wrote letters to senators with a request to render assistance to Armenia. In this case, why wasn’t the issue of “genocide” discussed in the Congress or the US Senate? As is known, the UN adopted the resolution of genocide, why then didn’t the United State recall the “Armenian genocide” of 1915 after adoption of this document. Years have passed and now it is used as a political mean and a political pressure against Turkey. In his time, Premier Francesco Mitte wrote in his book “Europe’s Resurrection” that the western countries use Armenian trump when they feel the need to put pressure on Turkey.
Q: Several deputies in the Azerbaijani parliament spoke of the need to send a group of deputies to Washington to persuade the US lawmakers of the harm of the said document to interstate relations during the recent discussion of raising the issue of the mythical “Armenian genocide” on the agenda of the US Congress. Do you think the visit of the deputies could influence the decision of the congressmen?
A: Certainly, we should be by Turkey’s side in this issue. This issue refers not only to Turkey. This is also Azerbaijan’s problem. By adopting the resolution of fictional “Armenian genocide”, the United States are justifying the current crimes of Armenians, granting them the status of the humiliated and abused nations thus setting back the occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenians, driving Azerbaijani citizens away from their native lands. In other words, if historically the mythical “refers” to Turkey, in the modern sense it refers to Azerbaijan.
Q: Which steps do you think Azerbaijan should take when the draft resolution of “Armenian genocide” is already adopted by the Committee and submitted for consideration in the Congress?
A: Certainly, in this issue Azerbaijan should take steps conjointly with Turkey. Turkey and Azerbaijan should join efforts to disclose the essence of the so-called “Armenian genocide”. Ankara and Baku must remind to Washington that the adoption of the fictional “Armenian genocide” by the Congress will create definite problems in the relations of the United States with Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Q: Which definite implications will the possible adoption of the resolution on recognition of “Armenian genocide” in the Congress have for the US-Azerbaijani relations?
A: Nothing will change if the US Congress recognizes the fictional “Armenian genocide”. By this recognition Turkey will turn into the object of moral condemnation. On the other hand, I consider that the recognition of the mythical “Armenian genocide” by the US Congress is also connected with Azerbaijan. It means that such a decision of the Congress connected with Turkey also refers to the policy held by Washington on Azerbaijan. I would like to note once again that in case the Congress recognizes the mythical “Armenian genocide”, it would mean moral support to the occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenians.
Q: The Azerbaijani parliament has already voiced recommendations that as an adequate step in case of recognition of the mythical “Armenian genocide” in the US Congress, the Turkish parliament should recognize the “Khojaly genocide”. Will this step of the Turkish parliament by proportional to the recognition of “1915 genocide” in the US Congress?
A: I do not consider it right that the Grand National Assembly of Turkey must recognize the Khojaly genocide in a response to recognition of fictional “Armenian genocide” in the US Congress. Such issues should be approached clearly: either there was a genocide or it has never existed. Khojaly genocide is a tragedy that does not need proofs. It means that the Khojaly genocide occurred in everyone’s eyes and this tragedy is fixed in video materials. The rejection of this tragedy is impossible. In other words, it is incorrect to bind the recognition of the Khojaly genocide with the adoption of the fictional “Armenian genocide” by any country. Turkey must take this step and recognize the Khojaly genocide regardless of whether the US Congress will recognize the “Armenian genocide”.
Q: Will the decision of the Congress influence the normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia?
A: Naturally, the recognition of fictional “Armenian genocide” by the US Congress will have a negative influence on the normalization of the Turkish-Armenian relations. However, it should be noted that there have been many issues that condition the normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia. Anyway, it is possible to say for sure that Armenia is not ready to normalize relations with Turkey. By taking such steps, the Armenian side aimed to check Turkey’s nerves.
Q: How will this decision of the US Congress influence the Karabakh settlement?
A: Certainly, the decision of the Congress will also have a negative impact on the negotiation process on the resolution of the Karabakh conflict. I think on the whole, Azerbaijan must set an alternative way of liberating its occupied lands. The activity of the OSCE Minsk Group on the Karabakh conflict settlement is harmful for Azerbaijan because it aims at adjusting Azerbaijan to existing status quo on Karabakh. In other words, this process is in Armenia’s favor. Equation of the occupant and the victim of occupation is a political support to the occupant.
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