"Withdrawal of Azerbaijani peacekeepers from Kosovo is right"

ANS
28.02.2008 18:13

Azerbaijani National Independence Party leader Etibar Mammadov:
"The conditions being changed, deployment of Azeri peackeepers in
Kosovo is not in the interest of Azerbaijan"

– The discussions on withdrawal of Azerbaijani peacekeepers from
Kosovo have started. What do you think, should Azerbaijani peacekeepers
recalled from Kosovo?

– Withdrawal of Azerbaijani peacekeepers from Kosovo is a right
step. It is a right decision. Peacekeeping forces in Kosovo were
deployed there under the decision of UN. And Azerbaijan is represented
there according to this.

But Kosovo authorities have declared independence
unilaterally. Therefore, representation of Azerbaijani armed forces
there is not advisable, as the attitude of Azerbaijan to this
independence isn’t positive.

– Namely, the conditions have changed…

– Yes, of course, as the conditions have changed, deployment of Azeri
peackeepers in Kosovo is not in the interest of Azerbaijanis. The
most important thing is that Azerbaijan must not let deployment of
peacekeepers in Qarabaq unless Daqliq Qarabaq conflict is settled.

– Namely, the same fate may await us?

– Of course, not may, but will await. If peacekeepers are deployed
there.

– What do you think, the forces we can count on will be China and
Russia, or other states of Security Council?

– We must try to have much more allies. Apart from that, we must try
to have allies not only among separate states, but among the world
community as well. Essentially, we must have enough power so that to
prevent pressures of that kind.

– The political situation in Armenia has become strained recently. Can
we have progress in direct contacts with Armenia in near future?

– More the situation is challenged in Armenia, more it should be
in interest of Azerbaijan as it is an enemy state. Is there is a
confrontation between Qarabaq and Yerevan, we can benefit from this.

– There was the same situation in 1920. Mikoyan and Atabekyan said
that they would never subject Shusha to Yerevan. Can the same situation
be formed again?

– Yes, it was so then. But it is needed to work so that the same
situation be formed. Sit and wait when there Armenians will be
divided. It is not a serious position. And the best is to reveal the
forces, who are interested in being subject to Baku. This is a very
important issue. /ANS PRESS/