Interview with Azerbaijani political commentator Fikrat Sadikhov.
Q: What are your impressions of the military parade held in Baku on 26 June, Armed Forces Day?
A: The parade was impressive with the hardware and personnel. The military spirit, the readiness to resist occupation and, most important, the readiness to liberate their own lands could be felt. This could also be felt in the preparations for the parade and the demonstration of military force.
Q: What do you think about the outcome of the Kazan summit on Karabakh, given the information provided to the press by the foreign ministries of both parties?
A: In fact, Azerbaijani society, as well as officials and experts, had no special hope that the Kazan meeting would settle all the accumulated problems and that there would be some decisive and final breakthroughs in the conflict settlement. I have had the same position since the talks started almost 20 years ago that they cannot end in one day with the signing of a big agreement. Yes, the draft Basic Principles were on the agenda, but they failed to yield any result for the simple reason that Azerbaijan and Armenia have a different understanding of the principle of territorial integrity. While we rely on norms of international law on the inviolability of territorial integrity and the support of leading states and international organizations, Armenia speaks about the complete independence of Karabakh which must be declared as soon as possible. It is clear that Azerbaijan will never do this, while the Kazan meeting has not yet confirmed it. According to the president, territorial integrity is not subject to negotiations at all.
Horse-trading is under way. It is clear that the leading powers have their interests in the region. Primarily, it is Russia, as a neighbour and, openly speaking, ally of Armenia. Russia would certainly like to develop partner relations with Azerbaijan which is a more profitable partner than Armenia, which has turned into a beggar with outstretched hand living on donations. Armenia has lost its former role as a bridgehead in the fight against Turkey. Times have changed, as has the geopolitical situation. But nonetheless Russia continues supporting Armenia by inertia. It realizes that here there is a need for very serious compromise, it understands that Armenia must agree that Nagorno-Karabakh should remain part of Azerbaijan and acquire significant independence, with an increase in its powers. I have to repeat, however, that this is all in the framework of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Armenia does not do this and here Armenians worldwide are the main obstacle, since they have a serious impact on decision-making in Armenia. Armenia is not an independent state.
It is, as before, a tale of leading powers that pursue their interests in the region, take positions obstructing the interests of Azerbaijan and Turkey. That is, the influence of Armenians worldwide is very important in both the West and Russia. This is first.
Second is certainly the fear of Azerbaijan’s strengthening, an increase of defence and economic potential, its allied relations with Turkey. It all causes serious concerns in the West and Russia. Probably, thanks to the principled position of Azerbaijan, our opinion is taken into account. They cannot treat us the same, as some states did in the early 1990s when Azerbaijan was taken as an enemy of world civilization. We have overcome this and now we are closing a new stage. We stand firmly on our feet. But we have, of course, faced a very serious, cunning enemy that has external support. We need to bear it in mind all the time.
Q: The Azerbaijani president's address before the military parade cannot be described as too bellicose. He declared Azerbaijan’s intention to continue diplomatic effort to settle the conflict. Probably the meeting in Kazan was not as unsuccessful, as many say?
A: I don’t think the Kazan summit was a failure. Any meeting makes positions closer to some extent. Though not completely, but each of them brings a certain clarity. First, it makes clear to Armenia that Azerbaijan has a firm and principled stance and further intentions.
Second, the mediating countries are aware that Azerbaijan intends to defend its territorial integrity, while being ready to grant broad autonomy to Nagorno-Karabakh.
In a recent interview, President Ilham Aliyev said it would be possible to use the model of South Tyrol which has quite a serious autonomy and is almost independent, but within Italy.
There is a certain rapprochement, there a definite understanding that Azerbaijan will not disavow its position. It is probably not so important to Armenia, as to the mediators that are also interested in stability in this region and we saw that from the statements of President Obama and President Sarkozy of France (though he called Armenia his sister, but on his head be it, we won't go into this kinship). Anyway, the meeting showed the willingness of our country to reach agreement in future too and showed that Azerbaijan is a peace-loving, tolerant, civilized country that firmly defends its territorial integrity.
In fact, it is good that the real strength of Azerbaijan's army potential was demonstrated right after the meeting. It may sober up some politicians who still have plans for Azerbaijani land. This should be indicative primarily to Armenia itself and to those leading states that obviously watched this parade and saw the hardware, as well as Azerbaijan’s readiness to use it to protect its territorial integrity.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
