ASIM MOLLAZADE: "NORMALIZING OF RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND ARMENIA IS QUITE POSSIBLE BUT ONLY AFTER ARMENIA RELEASES THE OCCUPIED LANDS OF AZERBAIJAN"
Today.Az
s/politics/45825.html
June 20 2008
Azerbaijan
Day.Az interview with chairman of Democratic Reforms Party, MP Asim
Mollazade.
– Assistant US Secretary of State Daniel Fried said Turkey needs
to reconcile with a dark chapter in its history: mass killings and
forced deportation of up to 1,500,000 Armenians in the end of the
Osman Empire. Doesn’t it imply possible recognition of the so-called
"Armenians genocide" by the United States?
– I do not think there is a possibility for recognition of the
"genocide of Armenians" by the United States. On the whole, I consider
that history should involve historical scientists not politicians. In
this connection, it should be noted that the Azerbaijan-Turkey Fund
of Historical Researches, engaged in studying all political facts
including 1915 events in Osman Turkey, has already been created. We
are ready to cooperation with the historical scientists of the world
in this issue, as our purpose is to restore historical justice.
– How would you comment on Fried’s announcement that the US are for
normalizing relations between Armenia and Turkey?
– I think normalizing of relations between Turkey and Armenia is quite
possible but only after Armenia releases the occupied Azerbaijani
territories. If not, improvement of relations between Turkey and
Armenia is out of the question. I think it would be more correct and
expedient for the United States to use its influence for boosting
peace and good neighbor relations in our region.
– Doesn’t the tone of Fried’s announcement imply that the US intend
to put pressure on Turkey for normalizing relations with Armenia?
– I do not think any country in the world will manage to impose
pressure on Turkey and Azerbaijan in the issue of normalizing
relations with Armenia if the occupied territories of our country
are not liberated. There is a great potential for restoring peace
and tranquility in our region by means of pressure on Armenia, which
must disavow the territorial claims to the countries of our region
and liberate the occupied lands of Azerbaijan.
– But how Turkey benefits from closing borders with Armenia?
– This is a way of non-forced pressure on Armenia, aiming to show
the leadership of this country the erroneousness of the expansionist
policy. Moreover, the position of Turkey, which is a brother to
Azerbaijan, is strong, as the whole world has already realized the rude
violation of all international rules and norms by Armenia. Turkey
simply supports international law. And I do hope that all world
countries, stating need for normalizing of Azerbaijani-Armenian and
Turkish-Armenian relations should also be loyal to these principles.
Moreover, in this case not the usefulness of the quo status for Turkey
but its consequences for Armenia should be spoken of. Here everything
is clear: Armenia has turned into Russia’s outpost in the Caucasus,
isolating itself from all regional projects, involving Azerbaijan,
Turkey and Georgia and attractive for European countries. Armenia’s
lagging behind all other regional countries is growing each year.
The most pragmatic and wisest part of the Armenian society also
realizes the situation. They voiced their distrust to the incumbent
Armenian authorities during the recent presidential elections in
this country. As you remember, the Karabakh clan representatives
committed bloodshed and held repressions against their own citizens,
protesting against the results of elections. People were killed in
the Yerevan streets during the upheaval, censorship was applied,
repressions against opposition members are still conducted in Armenia
and strict restrictions were imposed on freedom of speech.
It all proves disappointment with the Armenian powers, understanding of
the deadlocked situation, to which the country has led itself by its
policy of territorial claims to neighbor countries of the region. I
want to believe that world society will help this country get rid of
the "war party" by means of democratic reforms.