Azeri reporter has positive impression of Karabakh tour

Yeni Musavat, Baku
22 Feb 05

Excerpt from Sevinc Telmanqizi report by Azerbaijani newspaper Yeni
Musavat on 22 February headlined “‘Armenians attacked me in Lacin'”
and subheaded “Eynulla Fatullayev has returned from Nagornyy Karabakh”

Eynulla Fatullayev, editor of the Monitor magazine and prominent
journalist, has returned from a tour of Nagornyy Karabakh with loads
of news, pictures and fond memories. Visiting ancient places in the
occupied districts of Nagornyy Karabakh, talking to Armenians and even
Azerbaijanis there, our colleague backed Armenian “ministers” and
“mayors” into a tight corner with questions. It is intriguing that
despite all these aspects of the visit, our colleague has a pleasant
impression.

We asked Fatullayev to share his impressions of the 11-day tour of
Karabakh.

[Passage omitted: Fatullayev had meetings in Yerevan]

[Fatullayev] On 12 February, I left Yerevan for Xankandi, Susa, Lacin
and Agdam. Actually, I was the first Azerbaijani to visit Agdam after
the truce. I was treated well in Agdam and Susa. However, the attitude
towards me was aggressive in Lacin. The Armenians living there
attacked me, saying that this is their land and wondered about the aim
of my visit. However, my security was arranged very well. I asked them
who they are and they said they are refugees from villages of Agdara
District, which is under Azerbaijani control. There are Armenians from
Yevlax and Baku in Lacin.

People are settling in 10-15 villages of Agdam. There are about 15
houses, very few enterprises and small shops. All the houses in Agdam
have been razed to the ground.

[Passage omitted: Armenians hate Agdam residents]

[Correspondent] Did you interview people you were planning to meet?

[Fatullayev] I interviewed [Karabakh separatist leader] Arkadiy
Gukasyan and the mayor of Stepanakert. Because of the three-year ban
on [ex-defence minister] Samvel Babayan’s entry into Karabakh, I could
not interview him. I also met some Azerbaijanis in Asgaran, where a
dozen of them are still living.

[Passage omitted: one of them is from Ucar District; Fatullayev held a
press conference for Karabakh reporters]

[Correspondent] What were Armenian journalists interested in?

[Fatullayev] They were keen on my views about the ongoing processes in
Karabakh. I said that the switch from the police regime to a
semi-civil society had taken place in Karabakh and free polls were
held, the opposition won, the media was free and there was political
rivalry. Political freedom is stronger there than in Armenia. At all
meetings, they wondered about public opinion in Azerbaijan. My
impression of the meetings with the Karabakh political leadership is
that they are ready for horizontal relations with Azerbaijan.

[Passage omitted: young generation is accustomed to living without
Azerbaijan; no video filming in Agdam was permitted]

[Correspondent] You are very positive about the visit and I cannot
hear a word of criticism about the Armenians. Do you not think that
this will cause a negative reaction among the public?

[Fatullayev] I was in the same mood before my trip to Karabakh and did
not witness any anti-Azerbaijani hysteria. Maybe, they were only
pretending. However, my observation is that they hate the Azerbaijani
authorities, not our people.