Azat Artsakh Tert, Nagorno Karabakh Republic
Aug 10 2007
Observation corner
by Norayr Hovsepian
Armenian-azerbaijan and azerbaijan-armenian relations are often
observed on parallel planes. In some cases this point of view is
justified, in some cases – contrary. In the case of Shushi in time
the most various points of view about the positions of these two
powers are circulated. In connection with the 15th anniversary of
liberation of Shushi the various points of view about this problem
have become active again. About this and other questions was our talk
with the head of RA Institute of Oriental Studies Ruben Safrastian.-
"In different historical periods Shushi was always in the focus of
attention of the turkish surrounding. How can this manifistation of
underlined attention be explained?" – "Here two circumstances must be
taken into consideration, the first – strategic position of Shushi,
and the second – the circumstance, that Shushi has been one of main
centres of spiritual life. So these two clauses play a role in
strengthening the conviction in turkish surrounding, that in case of
neutralizing Shushi, it will be easy to possess Karabakh. – "Today
Azerbaijan puts forward the necessaty of returning Shushi to
Azerbaijan, on which it is based? And how do you imagine the future
of Shushi? – "Azerbaijan can demand much, but the problem of Shushi
has been already solved. It has been liberated, and is one of the
most important centres of Karabakh today. It must be done everything
that Shushi can restore the status of its spiritual-cultural,
economical center, which it had at the end of the 19thc. and at the
beginning of the 20thc.. This is the main problem about which it must
not dream of, but realize step by step".