NOVRUZ MAMMADOV: "REFERENDUM ON NAGORNO KARABAKH’S STATUS SHOULD ONLY BE HELD IN THE ENTIRE TERRITORY OF AZERBAIJAN"

Azeri Press Agency
April 10 2008
Azerbaijan

Issue on holding referendum on Nagorno Karabakh’s status has not been
put before Azerbaijan.

Baku. Lachin Sultanova – APA. Head of Azerbaijani President’s Office
International Relations Department Novruz Mammadov’s interview to APA

-Can the meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents take place
by the presidential elections in Azerbaijan?

-Azerbaijan and its President Ilham Aliyev approaches
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict conceptually. The
international community has established the Minsk Group within
the framework of OSCE to solve this conflict. The group has been
operating for more than ten years, no concrete results have been
achieved yet. Of course, it worries Azerbaijani President and
he has made his remarks concerning it. After UN General Assembly
adopted resolution on "The situation in the occupied Azerbaijani
territories" Armenia made statements that Azerbaijani Government did
not want to meet, refused Minsk Group and OSCE and tried to solve
the problem within the framework of UN. All this, is disinformation,
undiplomatic steps taken to influence Azerbaijan’s position to some
extent and do not reflect reality. The ongoing processes in Armenia,
political crisis after the elections are very deep and strong. The
crisis continues and I think will continue for a long time. The report
of the International Crisis Group shows that the ongoing processes
in the country are inadequate, the world community should express
concrete position on the developments in Armenia and pressure should
be exerted on official Yerevan to achieve constructive settlement of
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. During his visit to Romania, Azerbaijani
President met with the co-chairs on their insistence, exchanged views
on their position on the resolution and wanted explanation. Of course,
it was impossible to hold meeting with Armenian authorities in this
situation. Serzh Sarkisian did not have the status of president at
that time, this meeting could be some kind of support for him in
the political crisis he faced. That’s’ why Azerbaijani President
did not do it. But the general opinion is that Azerbaijan does not
refuse Minsk Group, negotiations within the framework of OSCE and
is ready to meet. Azerbaijani President will not certainly refuse
a meeting, if there is a concrete issue, if there is a need to hold
concrete discussions on some points and it is possible to make a step
forward. At the recent meeting the co-chairs persistently said they
would do their best for some kind of self-rehabilitation. The debate
was too tense, Azerbaijani President’s position was very severe. The
President’s position was that such events might influence the relations
of Azerbaijan with the co-chairs and the countries they represent and
that they should take it into account. Azerbaijan is an independent
state, it has independent foreign policy, we know Azerbaijan’s place
and role in Eurasia, international relations and we know how it will
be afterwards. That’s why being self-confident we demand equal-right
and just relations with all. This is our right.

Actually, the West is aware of it. The West is aware of Azerbaijan’s
potentials and realizes Azerbaijan’s importance very well. Year after
year Azerbaijan’s position, role and importance will increase in the
ongoing processes in the world. The doors are open to continue the
negotiations. But it is impossible to say when and where the meeting
will take place. The co-chairs will visit the region. It will be
possible to make a decision after they have talks with both sides.

-Is it possible to meet during the inauguration of Russian newly
elected President Dmitriy Medvedev?

-I don’t think so, because Russians have no traditions to invite to
the inauguration of the president. If there will be such invitation
and the presidents will attend the ceremony, then we can say something.

-May NATO Declaration supporting Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity
be a guarantee of world community for non-violation of the territorial
integrity of our country?

-Undoubtedly, sooner or later, Nagorno Karabakh status will be
restored within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Nagorno
Karabakh is the historic part of Azerbaijan. Armenians despite
their efforts should realize that Azerbaijan will never allow them
to separate Nagorno Karabakh. It has no alternative. Azerbaijan has
changed since early 1990s and has become strong. All Europe, Islamic
world and our neighbors understand the importance of Azerbaijan in
the global processes. Azerbaijani foreign policy is directed toward
the mutual useful cooperation with all countries, which does not
damage anyone. Peaceful neighborhood and useful cooperation is the
main principles of our foreign policy. We have no problems with not
only Georgia and Turkey, but also with Iran and Russia. Armenians
should know once for all that Nagorno Karabakh has never been
recognized as an independent body, is not recognized today and will
never be recognized. All over the world take Azerbaijan’s position
into consideration. Azerbaijan is strengthening its position day
after day. The UN resolution reflects the UN position and carries
the global weight. This document supports Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity and considers the peaceful solution of the conflict within
the OSCE Minsk Group advisable. NATO Final Declaration also coincides
with the UN resolution. An article in the Declaration shows that NATO
member countries support the territorial integrity, independence and
sovereignty of Azerbaijan and at the same time NATO concerns about
the non-solution of the conflict. It is very objective position,
which makes Azerbaijan’s stance stronger and is also guarantee for
the territorial integrity of our country. International organizations
exist not to make statements and to change it later. Leaders of the
world leading countries and international organizations stated that
Kosovo couldn’t be a precedent for other conflicts. It means that
their position on Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh is different. If they
doubt over the Nagorno Karabakh issue they didn’t speak about Kosovo
as it couldn’t be as a precedent and made different statements. But
every one concretely said that Kosovo shouldn’t be considered as a
precedent for other conflicts.

-Did Azerbaijan receive reply from OSCE to its request for mechanism
of changing the Minsk Group Co-Chairs?

-They cannot reply. Simply it was necessary for us. It happened
suddenly and surprised and made us regretful, because co-chair
countries said they had supported Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity,
but showed opposite position during a voting. It is difficult to
explain it. We requested OSCE as an independent country showing
its foreign policy course. It needs to keep at least two important
sides of these processes on focus. At first, the co-chairs lose the
confidence of Azerbaijani Government, opposition and population. The
world community expects fairness in these relations and we also demand
our rights. Secondly, it is negative case for the international
relations. There are leading countries in the world, which have
established international relations, UN and other international
organizations after the World War II. There is a theoretical ground,
which unites the international law, its norms and principles and bases
on the documents, conventions, treaties and regulations. Nearly 200
countries in the world are interested in the fair processes regulated
by legal norms. The parts violating these norms are known. In fact the
weak parts cannot violate, always the powers violate the norms, which
change opinions about them in Azerbaijan and all over the world. It is
important issue. Even when the most powerful country loses confidence,
it starts losing many things. There were super powers in the world
history, which existed for 100, 200 and 500 years and later lost
confidence and left the scene of history. We are vowing our protest
today, but tens of countries accept it as a resistance.

-Are there any pressures against Azerbaijan to hold referendum on
the future status of Nagorno Karabakh? There are pressures against
official Baku on amendments to the Constitution to hold referendum
in Nagorno Karabakh, according some information…

-It is impossible to put pressure on Azerbaijani President and
Azerbaijan on any issues, including it. Azerbaijan has not faced this
issue and it cannot be any time. Azerbaijani Constitution has been
adopted once and Azerbaijan will further take step with it. Armenia
and its supporters often raised such issues for their interests.

Condition should be created for this referendum. Nagorno Karabakh
should be returned to status quo before referendum. Azerbaijanis
should return to their lands. Several years need to establish normal
life. Referendum should be held in all territories of Azerbaijan
basing on Azerbaijani Constitution. Azerbaijan will not agree to other
version. It is impossible to achieve something by means of pressure.

-Islamic Countries have supported Azerbaijan on Voting for Resolution
in UN. But we have not seen such support from CIS countries. How can
you explain it?

– There are a lot of problems in Islamic World. Unjust approaches
caused to these problems. Therefore Islamic Countries are very
sensitive in such situations and the support is natural. The West
should take position of Islamic World into account. There is not
eternal thing in the world. Islamic World is big. The West should
listen and deal with Islamic World and should be ready for negotiations
and understand it. If the West does not do it, it will cause damage
to it. It is normal that Islamic World supports Azerbaijan. It is not
true to separate international relations into Islamic World and West,
Christian World. Everybody should protect justice and be just.

-Russia has lifted sanctions on economy and transport against
Abkhazia. Does Azerbaijan continue sanctions?

-Russia’s decision is its position. We have not changed our position
on it, certainly we will continue sanctions.

-What is Azerbaijan’s position on the establishment of Russia-Armenia
Union State?

-This is an idea. I cannot say anything concretely. Russia could not
establish Union State with Belarus. Armenia is a province of Russia
and everything belongs to Russia. Russia controls biggest companies,
energy supply, transport. Union State is very suspicious for me. If
it is as a former USSR, it will be controlled by the centre. There
is no need to name it Union State. Two equal right states should be
represented in real Union State. I don’t consider it successful step
and I have great suspicion for its future.