Historyoftruth.com reprints from 1news.az an interview with resident of Khojavand settlement of Beylagan region of Azerbaijan Zhenia (Esoyan) Zeynalova.
Zhenia, an Armenian by nationality, chose to leave Armenia with his family alongside with Azerbaijani refugees at the time of the Karabakh conflict.
Q: Previously, you have already been interviewed by Euronews TV channel (NAGORNO-KARABAKH: IN REFUGEE CAMP IN AZERBAIJAN). Introduce yourself, please…
A: Zhenya Mikhailovna Zeynalova (Esoyan). I was born in the village of Boyuk Tagi of Hadrut region in 1937. My childhood passed there and then I married an Azerbaijani man and moved to the Azerbaijani village Salaketin (now occupied by Armenia). I am married to an Azerbaijani for almost 53 years and live happily ever after.
Q: I know you feel sad to remember, but still, with what started the events that led ultimately to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict?
A: You know, even though we lived in a neighboring village populated by Armenians, they did everything secretly, I did not understand what their intentions were. But later it was already clear what they wanted to do. And then I got scared, because I knew that it had no good end.
Q: At that time both sides had a choice, someone stayed while someone left. What made you stay here (in Azerbaijan)?
A: People in our village and all Azerbaijanis are always so respectful, so polite ... no matter what happens. I would have never left. They are so nice to me that I never thought about leaving them and their village.
Q: I want to ask another question: when you get married to the Azerbaijani, have you had any problems in this regard?
A: Not really. I never had any problem about it.
Q: So, you married for love?
A: Of course. I was not aiming to go to anywhere especially after we had children. How can a person abandon own children and go somewhere? I will die, but will never go to the other (Armenian) side.
Q: Maybe you have something to say to both Azerbaijani and the Armenian sides?
A: I want both sides to find a common language and reconcile.
Q: Do you think the two nations can live in a peace as they did in the past?
A: In your opinion, which one is better: to be in contention, or to live in peace? I want us to live in peace, harmony, fun and in an atmosphere of mutual support once again. One needs to be amicable. I think that the adult generation will better find common language.
Q: Is it possible to restore peace and return to the old days after all that happened?
A: I think only good will and mutual respect can help to solve the conflict and restore the old relationship. Young people have not seen war, but those who are older will go toward each other.
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