Interview with Dr. Dale Murphy, Senior Research Fellow at the Dubai School of Government.
Q: What can you say about what you saw in Azerbaijan during the international conference on the situation in the South Caucasus?
A: This was my first visit to Azerbaijan. The development I saw there impressed me. I think the country conducts a right policy on integration with the global system of policy and economy.
Q: Is it timely to speak of the effective integration of a country whose greater part is still under occupation of a neighbor state?
A: Though I am not a politician, and I specialize in economy, I can say that the security problems affect most spheres. The most important is that the sooner the conflict is settled peacefully, the better.
Both parties need to wait. They must compete in their vision of the future, rather than live in the past. But I think both parties are still trying to live in the past.
Certainly, the development of all countries is based on history and it is encouraging that the history of Azerbaijan has short but positive pages in democracy. As for the events around the resolution of the Karabakh conflict, I do not see such a prospect. I want to see more positive discussions and exchange of views between the parties.
Q: What should be done for the world community, which speaks much of the economic potential of Azerbaijan and its energy resources, to engage closely with the Karabakh settlement?
A: I think the international conference similar to the one held in Baku on the situation in the South Caucasus on October 22-23, is one of the important steps in this direction. By gathering people from all over the world and giving them an opportunity to share views and exchange in the situation in the region, it is possible to help the case. In addition, mass media can and must play a special role here. All the same, I think the most effective means to attain this goal is the exchange of scientists and probably cultural figures, since they form scientific communities.
In addition, the economic component, including economic integration, exchange of experience, institutionalization, and deeper integration with the global economy are playing a positive role. Such ties, referring to the problem indirectly, could play a positive role by creating a necessary background for the negotiation process.
U.U.
News.Az
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
