AZG Armenian Daily #172, 21/09/2007

Sefilian’s Case

"THE NEXT MUST BE NAKHIJEVAN"

An exclusive interview with Jirair Sefilian

– "Jarangutyun" party recently put into circulation the draft law of
recognition of Nagorno Karabakh independence. What can you say on this
occasion?

– If the issue is settled only with the recognition of NKR
independence, I am against it. I will agree with it, if it has a
logical continuation, mainly, if after it NKR unites the Republic of
Armenia turning into two or more provinces of it. Besides, parallel
with this we must correct our mistake of 1988 and lay claim to joining
Nakhijevan to Armenia. If it is not logical continuation of the
proposal of "Jarangutyun", then I am against it. Without the mentioned
steps it seems that NKR becomes independent not from Azerbaijan, but
Armenia, and it will do a big harm to our national unity. Before that
proposal, the authorities of NKR took seriously the "fact" of being
independent. By the way, it is one of the main reasons of
contradictions between the citizens of Armenia and Karabakh, when
Armenians being citizens of different states forget that Artsakh is
part of Armenia. The creators of NKR at that time thought that they
would have chances to maneuver in international political sphere. In
reality, we lie to ourselves, while the so-called international
society continues to regard it as an Armenian-Azerbaijani issue and
does not see Artsakh as a separate side of the conflict. We must stop
this clownery and organize a new referendum to unite NKR with Armenia.

– Nevertheless, according to recent Gall polls 2/3 of the questioned
are for the independence of NKR.

– I don’t think that Gall polls show the real picture. The Gall polls
are not for the clarification of the people’s approaches, but for the
compulsion of other viewpoints. The results of that Gall poll are not
only incorrect, but also very dangerous because of the advocating
effect.

– Do you think that it’s the correct time to speak of not only the
joining of NKR and Armenia, but also to raise the issue of Nakhijevan
parallel?

– Until today, it’s not understandable for me why the Karabakh
movement didn’t demand for joining Nakhijevan. Didn’t the members of
Karabakh committee know that Nakhijevan was banished at the same time
with Artsakh? Didn’t they know that if Garegin Njdeh did not organize
the resistance of Syunik, it would also have the same fate? I have
heard many explanations, which remind me justifications. But now the
most important thing is not to know the real reasons of it, and not to
blame the political figures of that time, but to correct the mistake,
and it’s the real time and even late. The issue of Artsakh we may
consider as settled by 80 percent. Nevertheless, we must not forget of
the rest 20 percent: the regions of Shahumian and Getashen. We must
also start the process of Nakhijevan today, though we are pretty late
to start it. The moment was served two years ago by the scream of Nor
Jugha’s crossstones. The Azerbaijani army’s leaders of Nakhijevan must
answer for that barbaric crime. Nakhijevan must become the main issue
of RA foreign policy. Diaspora must also buckle down to it, having it
in the foreground instead of the recognition of the Armenian genocide.

– But Armenians were majority in Artsakh, while the Azerbaijani live
in Nakhijevan.

– We are not going to force the population of Nakhijevan, Tatars by
origin, to leave their homes. They must understand that they are new
comers. I am sure that the population living there is very
dissatisfied with its barrack-like form of life. Armenians are ready
to live in peace with them, not to be rancorous. Armenia must
recommend their security and provide educational, cultural and
economic freedom, and roads, but the Armenian authorities must rule
the region. The necessity of joining Nakhijevan to Armenia is not
conditioned only with the rehabilitation of historical justice. It has
also geopolitical and economic importance for nowadays Armenia’s
strategy. The Azerbaijani army must leave that region, but the
Armenian armed forces will not allocate there, as Nakhijevan will
become an anti-military region creating the best conditions for the
free market between Armenia and Iran.

– Don’t you think that it will bring to a new war, a new instability
and economic collapse?

– The means of pretension must be legal, diplomatic, public,
scientific-cultural, etc. All those means must serve the only goal –
manifestation of the national will to re-possess Nakhijevan. The
authorities of the provinces of Syunik, Vayots Dzor and Ararat must
have contact in connection with it. It doesn’t mean that we rouse a
war. If our enemy wants a war and is ready for it, it will not ask our
opinion. It’s a well-known truth that only the week are attacked. Iran
may be a good means to settle the issue and not to re-start the war,
as it is a highly respected country for both sides.

– What about the economy, I am sure that the main reason that impedes
the progress of the Armenian economy is the present infirm regime of
Armenia, and not the Karabakh conflict.

– The transport network, which has a big role in the economy, is
insufficiently developed in Armenia. With the help of Nakhijevan we
could recover the railway communication with Syunik and Artsakh, and
also make a railway connection with Iran, which has a strategic
importance for Armenia. The gas and oil pipelines could easily go to
North within the territory of Nakhijevan. It would be also possible to
create an oil refining industry. Being the continuation of the Ararat
valley and a significant granary of wheat, Nakhijevan could transfer
Armenia from an importer of wheat to an exporter of it, and to
multiply the export of other agronomical cultures. A new opportunity
would be given to build a hydroelectric power station on Arax
River. The benefits are evident also in the sphere of defense: instead
of 150 km we would protect only 8 km border after the join of
Nakhijevan. With this, we would make more invulnerable "the Armenian
wedge" and will protect and develop the Northern-Southern strategy of
our country.

– Do you think that it is realistic to carry out this program?

– Unfortunately, it’s not possible to carry out national programs of
strategic importance under the present-day regime. Nevertheless, I
think that it’s time to speak and discuss these kind of programs, in
order to realize it without delay under the future national
government.

Translated by L. H.