Interview with Zardusht Alizade,Azerbaijani political scientist.
Q: The Armenian president first refused to attend the NATO summit in Lisbon and now mass media write that he is persuaded not to attend the OSCE summit in Astana from which everyone expects achievements on Karabakh. How do you explain the conduct of the Armenian leadership?
A: In the case with the NATO summit Sargsyan seemingly did not like the fact that the final document of the summit mentions territorial integrity and does not indicate the right for self-determination though only Armenia recognizes this right of the Karabakh people de facto.
As for the OSCE, I think he will go there. If he does not, this will be his another defeat. Such demarches do not influence the OSCE which gathers together the heads of all European states. Small Armenia cannot threaten to boycott Europe. According to the proverb: “I bought a ticket and went by foot to annoy the conductor”
Q: Is the Armenian president dependent on public opinion who, judging by the mass media reports, is against its participation in the OSCE summit?
A: Today the US and European assistance to Armenia has reduced dramatically and diaspora is the main sponsor of the Armenian budget. They transferred a billion of dollars to the country which is a gross amount for Armenia since the budget is about 3 billion which means the third part of the budget is at issue. I would like to recall that when 30% of the Soviet budget from vodka disappeared due to the initiative of fighting alcoholism, the Soviet Union collapsed very quickly.
Q: How serious are the statements of mass media, saying Sargsyan may be forced to sign a document on the return of at least two regions around Nagorno Karabakh and further the rest seven regions to Azerbaijan in Astana?
A: They talks about five regions and two will be returned at the next stage. While coming to power, both Serzh and Robert promised much to the Armenian people, instead of making realistic promises. They also gave impossible promises. The promises which envisioned Azerbaijan’s capitulation, Robert or Serzh’s arrival to Azerbaijani capital, where we are all standing on our knees and they sign the act of capitulation. But we did not capitulate, in addition, the country has power to resist, Azerbaijan has resources sent by God. Therefore, Armenians should take a more realistic position. The Armenian leadership should respond to the Armenian people for the lost chances to live in peace with neighbors, develop and take part in regional integration. They did not give this chance to the people of Armenia.
Q: Do you expect something good from the mediation activeness recently demonstrated by Russia?
A: I do not expect anything. Russia is the main sponsor of Armenia, it initiated the conflict, it sponsors the aggressor, it froze the conflict and prolongation of the conflict meets Russia’s interests.
W.W.
News.Az
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