Interview with Mikhail Zabelin, head of the Russian community of Azerbaijan and Milli Majlis (parliament) deputy.
A I believe the role of the Russian president in this issue is very important and significant. Russia, in particular, Medvedev take steps to settle the Karabakh conflict.
At the last meeting of Milli Majlis speaker Oqtay Asadov with speaker of the Russian State Duma Boris Gryzlov in Moscow, I listed an example of events that occurred in Armenia and Karabakh, when people at powers in Armenia tried to settle the Karabakh conflict normally but it all ended in a tragedy. In particular, the then-president Ter-Petrosyan was forced to resign, Demirchan who promised to settle the problem was terminated. I also listed an example on Karabakh, where the whole family of the airport director supporting the region to remain as part of Azerbaijan was blasted. I told Grizlov that Armenia’s incumbent president Serzh Sargsyan fears for his life and if no pressure is put on him and Armenia, he will hardly sign any documents. Therefore, international organizations and countries must put pressure on Armenia.
Q: What should be expected from the upcoming September visit of President Medvedev to Azerbaijan?
A: We, as a Russian community of Azerbaijan, often look forward any visits and meetings between the two countries on the highest level. Therefore, we also expect much from this visit. As far as I know, Azerbaijan and Russia will sign definite agreements during this visit. As is known, huge work has been held to set a border between Azerbaijan and Russia despite problems related to water division of the river. However, the issues have been settled and I think the agreement on division both on the map and in the area will be signed officially.
Q: By the way, what can you say about the opening of a pedestrian passage on the Samur control checkpoint on the Azerbaijani-Russian border?
A: This pedestrian cross has been functioning for many years. However, it is not accommodated. We have received many complaints as the passage is too narrow. People have to wait for long to pass it. The issue of accommodation of the pedestrian passage on Samur was raised during the session of the interparliamentary group of Azerbaijan-Russia. Instructions were given to Azerbaijani and Russian frontier guards to work out this issue in September of this year so that to improve the pedestrian passage on the border.
Q: Can the foundation of the Orthodox church in Khankendi have a negative impact on the Azerbaijani-Russian relations?
A: Bishop of the Baku and Caspian eparchy of the Russian Church, Alexander Ishein has already expressed his negative attitude to this issue. He informed about it Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Cyril. As is known, the ground breaking ceremony of the church in Karabakh was not coordinated with Patroarch Cyril who also had a negative attitude to the ground breaking ceremony without coordinating this issue with the Russian orthodox church.
Karabakh is not a part of the Patriarchate of Moscow and all-Russia and it is an Azerbaijani territory. Naturally the powers of the Baku and Caspian eparchy of the Russian Orthodox church also cover Karabakh. Therefore, no one had a right to lay the foundation of the church without aggressing with our bishop or Patriarch Cyril.
Q: Has this issue been raised by Azerbaijani deputies in Moscow?
A: Certainly, this issue has been raised in my presence too. This issue was discussed during the visit of members of Azerbaijan-Russian interparliamentary group of friendship to Moscow. It is clear that Russian parliamentarians have nothing to do with this issue, it is a competence of the Russian Orthodox Church. Nevertheless, Russian parliamentarians promised to inform Patriarch Cyril about the event and the inexpediency to agree on construction of the orthodox church in Karabakh.
W.W.
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