Interview with Azerbaijani Defense Issues Assistant to Azerbaijani President, Lieutenant-General Vahid Aliyev.
Q.: Armenia has its own vision of history, which must be mixed with so-called "genocide" of Armenians and stories about "Great Armenia"...
A.: What to say to these people who cheat their own population? Neither today's Turkey nor the Ottoman had a goal to destroy the Armenians ethnically just because they were Armenians. Moreover, Turkey had ministers of the Armenian nationality. Historical truth is that Armenians lived in the Ottoman Empire nearly 600 years, and no Armenian suffered there. There are also many Armenians now in Turkey. Law-abiding citizens will live and prosper. But, the Armenian population living in eastern Turkey, armed themselves at the expense of tsarist Russia and France, and took the side of the opponents of Turkey in the early last century when Turkey was attacked by outside forces. The Turkish citizens of Armenian nationality formed the Armenian regular units and fought against Turkey to seize the country's eastern part to establish an Armenian state. They did not achieve anything. They achieved an Armenian state after the Bolshevik Revolution and the formation of the Soviet Union already in the Caucasus. The question of "genocide" - is a myth that Armenians want to impose on the world. The objective of this myth is territorial claims to Turkey and Azerbaijan.
The second myth is the so-called Greater Armenia. History shows that the Middle East fixed many wars, but no Armenian state, which would counter the great generals of those times, was recorded in the history. This suggests that there was not an Armenian statehood. Persians, Caucasians, Indians, Arabs and Turks fought there, but Armenians never fought with anyone. They have always been a part of this or that state.
Moreover, even assuming that there was a "Greater Armenia", what dividends it gives to Armenia? It is time for ideologues Armenians to understand that it is the 21st century and people should go forward, not backward. What is "Greater Armenia"? It is difficult to imagine what would happen if the Turkish, Russian, French, English, Spanish, Portuguese and other imperial nations remember their history, not only in the textbooks, but also begin to implement ... do not even want to think, what would happen if the Mongols remember about the time of Genghis Khan.
Q.: Azerbaijan is in the war state, as it is evidenced by reports from the frontline of the Azerbaijani and Armenian troops. Last week is remembered with the activity on the frontlines and fatalities. What is the reason for this activity?
A: We have always stated that the combat operations have not been frozen, the war was not stopped and there is only a ceasefire regime. The hostilities can resume at any moment. The status quo is not satisfactory. Why? Because, we have a million refugees and 20 percent of our territory is under occupation. Because, this greatly hampers both development of Azerbaijan and development of the entire region. Because, the State is responsible for its citizens, who are deprived motherland. Because, Armenia prolongs the current situation senselessly. Because, the Armenian side follows the ceasefire regime only in words, but makes provocations frequently and we are obliged to reply. And every time our responses are adequate, although we are able to give a more severe reaction.
But we still adhere to the peace negotiations, as the diplomatic resource has not yet been exhausted. However, this can not last forever. There were no results for about 20 years because the Armenian side holds unconstructive position for many years.
If any sensible person was asked how to solve a big problem, he will reply that a big problem should be divided into smaller problems and then solved, so that to solve the very big problem. And this is correct, and it is scientific mode. But what does Armenia answer to the same question? They offer to solve everything at once. This is at least funny.
At the same time, they offer to cooperate as it oddly enough for a reasonable person. Can one cooperate under the gunpoint or more caliber weapons? Can one lay infrastructure or trade, sow, plow and drive to relax under fire? The answer is obvious - no. The troops should be withdrawn at least to cooperate and thereby create an atmosphere of minimal trust. The problem should be solved step by step, but not immediately. The Armenian government's proposals are originally a deadlock and unacceptable option. Solution to the conflict is logically reflected in the updated Madrid principles proposed by the OSCE Minsk Group.
The current situation of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh is like the old anecdote about the hunter, who caught a bear. Once a hunter caught the bear and did not have what to do with it ... it is impossible to keep it and terribly to release. The Armenians cannot bear such a burden, which is the war, economically, psychologically or morally.
Q.: But Armenia claims that Azerbaijan and Turkey have blockaded it?
A.: One may claim anything he wants. What more you are wrong, more you look for reasons in others.
Those, who listen to this tale, must simply look at a map and see with a "surprise" that this is Armenia who occupies another country's territory and cut itself off all of those communications, which could pass through Armenia. That is, Armenia has driven itself to the blockade. It is a paradox - to drive itself to the blockade and even not involuntarily, but violently, then accuse us that we keep them in the blockade?
Their appeals to Turkey that they closed the border are at least disingenuous. For this, being in Turkey one should look at cars with Armenian numbers at least (which I personally observed), or listen to the Armenians themselves, who speak about the Turkish trucks carrying the Turkish goods to Armenia. The fact is that Turkey is only symbolically closed the border - the Armenians and the Turks cross the border freely. There is an air communication between Yerevan and Istanbul, incidentally, opened by Turkey. Where is the embargo?
The current Armenian government cannot recognize that Armenia has deprived its people of great economic, energy, transport and other projects with its short-sighted policy and that will very detrimental to its development. Armenia does not exist de facto as independent state. The country's wealth has been distributed for debt and its moral values are in the hands of the diaspora. The Armenian leadership has brought itself to a standstill and the situation will be even worse. Armenia temporarily captured 20 percent of the Azerbaijani territory, but has lost its future and its progress. The sooner they will realize that they must return what does not belong them, the sooner they will get out of the impasse into which they led themselves and their people, and the faster they will solve their problems.
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