Azerbaijani political experts disagree with initiative banning contacts with
Armenian party and visits of NGO representatives and journalists to Armenia

Arminfo Agency
2007-05-05 12:36:00

Azerbaijani political experts disagree with the proposal by MP Azay
Guliyev to ban contacts with the Armenian party and trips of NGO
representatives and journalists to Armenia.

Day.az reports that at the Roundtable on Nagory Karabakh conflict in
Baku, the well-known political specialist Rasim Musabekov called the
given initiative counterproductive. He believes that it may weaken
Azerbaijan’s position on Karabakh conflict settlement process. In his
turn, Chairman of Democratic Reform Party Asim Mola-zade believes it
difficult to propose anything to Armenians without ascertaining for
oneself where compromises start and where they end. He said that there
is a group of people in the Azerbaijani public who are well aware of
the problem and conduct relevant discussions. DRP Chairman said his
party has also raised the problem of uncertainty of the official
position. He thinks it necessary clarifying three important moments:
which is admissible to Azerbaijan in the issue of compromises, what is
inadmissible, and what is the mechanism of protection of the Armenian
minority by the Azerbaijani Government. In his turn, MP representing
"Musavat" party Nasim Nasibli categorically disagreed with wording
"Nagorny-Karabakh conflict" that conceals the "aggressive nature of
the Armenian policy." If Azerbaijan supports the peace process, it
must be for contacts with Armenians and must stimulate their interest
in the proposals of official Baku. This requires meetings of not only
top officials. The political expert Ilgar Mamedov also disagreed with
the aforementioned initiative as Azerbaijan’s position may be read out
at meetings in Yerevan. Attending the meeting, Akram Aylisli, MP and
writer, believes that the Azerbaijani people are not ready for
compromises.

He thinks it necessary making the people who stir-up militarist
sentiments on both parties to answer for their acts. Besides, he is
sure that the patriotic sentiments in public also have a negative
impact on the settlement process. The political expert Leila Aliyeva
agreed with him. She added that the growing generations in both
countries have no experience of co-residence, which can arouse
problems in future. MP Ilyas Ismaylov said there are different
opinions also in Nagorny Karabakh, and Azerbaijan should use the
economic factor to attract the sympathy of Karabakh Armenians.