VLADIMIR KAZIMIROV’S STATEMENTS ON KARABAKH PROBLEM REFLECT RUSSIA’S
OFFICIAL POSITION: AZERI POLITOLOGIST

YEREVAN, JANUARY 13. ARMINFO. People like Vladimir Kazimirov speak on
behalf of the official Kremlin, says ex FM of Azerbaijan Tofik
Zulfugarov. “His statements show his incompetence,” he adds.

“Armenia insists that Nagorny Karabakh be given independence which
would break Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. So Armenia must be
pressured. It is very rough now because it feels Russia’s backing,”
says Zulfugarov.

He says that in early 90s both parties said that the key to the
problem is in Moscow who does not however want it to be solved as this
problem is a lever for it to pressure both Azerbaijan and Armenia. “It
is playing into Moscow’s hands to constantly delay the conflict
settlement. That’s exactly what Kazimirov is proposing,” says
Zulfugarov.

The head of the Azeri community of Nagorny Karabakh Nizami Bahmanov
says that “Kazimirov’s statements show that people like him are the
key obstacle to the conflict settlement.” “Late Haydar Aliev told him
repeatedly to stop supporting Armenia. So it is not strange that
Kazimirov is talking such nonsence.”

Bahmanov says that unless the international community tries to settle
the problem Azerbaijan will resort to any means including military
ones. If the talks fail the parties will resume war. “Our patience is
not endless, we want to get back the lands of our ancestors and
diplomats like Kazimirov must know that Karabakh will never be
independent.” “Armenia and the Karabakh Armenians have in fact
suffered a serious social, political and diplomatic defeat. The
Armenian population of the occupied Azeri territories is in dire
state. People are leaving Karabakh on a mass scale.” “Nagorny Karabakh
is our homeland and we will go back there without fail,” says
Bahmanov.