Iran’s position on Karabakh problem has not changed – envoy
Regnum, Moscow
2 Feb 05
The principled position of the Islamic Republic of Iran on regional
processes and neighbouring countries has not changed. Iran has always
wished the establishment of peace, stability, security and economic
prosperity in the neighbouring countries, including in the Caucasus,
the Iranian ambassador to Armenia, Ali Reza Haqiqian, has told our
Regnum correspondent.
The Iranian diplomat said that “Iran’s position on regional events is
clear and is based on cooperation, balance and mutual
understanding. The peaceful settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict and the need to continue the bilateral Armenian-Azerbaijani
talks have always been stressed. Iran has always stated its readiness
to render any assistance in the settlement of this conflict.”
To recap, Regnum news agency asked the Iranian diplomatic mission in
Armenia to clarify the statements made by Iranian President Seyyed
Mohammad Khatami’s during Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s visit
to Tehran at the end of January 2005.
Within the framework of this visit, among other issues, the sides also
touched on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. Specifically, the Iranian
president expressed Tehran’s position on this issue. “Our position on
the Karabakh issue is clear. We are one of the few countries that
totally support Azerbaijan’s position on this issue. We support
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and its jurisdiction over this
territory,” the Azerbaijani media quoted Khatami as saying.
Meanwhile, within the framework of his official visit to Armenia in
September last year, the Iranian president spoke of the same problem
and used much vaguer formulations. “Iran is ready to make every effort
for a peaceful solution to the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. We respect
the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty. We welcome
the peaceful settlement of the conflict. Iran has special respect for
Armenia and if the conflicting sides appeal to us, we are ready to
take specific steps in this direction,” he stated.
The Nagornyy Karabakh problem is a very important subject both in
Armenia and Azerbaijan. Baku and Yerevan are interested in regional
processes, first of all, in this context. Thus, the change of the
accents in the Iranian president’s statements has drawn attention.
The Azerbaijani president’s visit to Iran was important not only in
the context of bilateral, but also regional relations. The atmosphere
of the visit was replete with continuing US information pressure on
Iran and experts’ opinions that the Azerbaijani territories might be
used for possible strikes on Iran. On the eve of the visit, the
Azerbaijani media published a list of military facilities where
Americans have already been deployed or will be deployed.
[Passage omitted: the Azerbaijani media named the districts where
American defence facilities will be deployed]
Is there is a point in talking seriously about a change in Iran’s
policy on the Karabakh problem? It is impossible to give a clear
answer to this question at this stage. The only thing which is clear
is that Tehran is obviously concerned by the possible negative
development of events connected with Iran’s nuclear problem – if the
USA and Israel switch from words to deeds.
It is obvious that Yerevan realizes the depth of this problem – the
aggravation of the situation surrounding Iran will create absolutely
new realities not only around the Karabakh problem, but also in the
entire region.
As is expected, the secretary of the Armenian Security Council,
Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan, will discuss exactly these important
issues during his forthcoming visit to Iran on 7-9 February.