POLAD BULBUL OGHLU: "WE DO NOT CONSIDER CIS TO BE A USELESS ORGANIZATION BUT PREFER BILATERAL RELATIONS"

Today.Az
02 July 2008
Azerbaijan

Interview with ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of
Azerbaijan to Russia Polad Bulbul oghlu before the visit of Russian
President Dmitri Medvedev to Azerbaijan.

– Azerbaijan and Russia maintain long-standing and close
cooperation. How can you assess the current state of bilateral
relations?

– Yes, we have a long-standing history, which covers not only the
Soviet period, but also the times of Tsarist Russia and certainly
the years of our coexistence within a single country.

Now, when the states have become independent, everyone mainly
bases on his national interests. The most important is that
Azerbaijan and Russia have mutual understanding, maintain partner
dialogue on the highest level, that is on the level of Presidents
and governments. Emerging problems can always be settled in the
process of a dialogue. Problems emerge even between members of one
family. Naturally, they can also emerge between the states, this
should be greeted with understanding.

We were glad that Dmitri Medvedev has accepted Ilham Aliyev’s
invitation and is ready to visit Baku. This is one of the first his
foreign visits as a President.

Medvedev has recently visited Kazakhstan, China, Germany and now
intends to visit Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. We think it is right
that the Russian President sees the CIS countries as a priority of
his activity.

I would like to note that Azerbaijan highly appreciates the activity of
former Russian president Vladimir Putin. He was the one who paid the
first state visit to Baku in 2001 in our recent history, in period of
national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev, who always had a great
respect towards Russia. Heydar Aliyev worked much in Moscow, he was
first deputy chairman of the USSR Council of Ministers, member of the
political bureau and a member of the senior leadership of the Soviet
Union. He always treated Russia with great attention and respect.

Putin’s visit was a kind of a turning point. After that the relations
between our countries started to improve. In this connection,
the visit of the new Russian President to Baku seems important,
we approve it and will greet him with great hospitality on our land.

– Heydar Aliyev’s 85th jubilee has recently been marked with a special
cordiality in Moscow…

– Right. The hall was filled, the memorial party was attended by new
head of the Russian presidential administration Mr. Narishkin.

Prominent figures of Russian academy of sciences, director of the
Tretyakov gallery delivered speech, the event was also attended by
deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Denisov. The night was conducted by
first deputy Moscow mayor Lubov Schvedova. The concern involved the
artists, who knew Heydar Aliyev personally… The press also well
highlighted the event and it is evident that Moscow and the whole
Russia remember him. People do not forget anything-either good or
bad. Therefore, it is important to do goof.

– What can be called a priority for Azerbaijan: bilateral relations
with Russia or development of multilateral relations in the framework
of the CIS?

– Certainly, bilateral relations with Russia. CIS is a good format
for talks, meetings, exchange of views. But, frankly speaking, all
former USSR states fear any supranational formations. After gaining
independence, no one wants violation of their sovereignty. No one
wants to give up even small powers. Therefore, it is not easy to
risk construction of the Allied Russian-Belarus state. There are
many other examples. If such associations as EES, GUAM, OTCS, this
means that CIS is regarded as a format for talks. Meanwhile, it is
good when presidents meet, community, prime ministers and foreign
ministers also regularly meet. We do not consider CIS to be a useless
organization but we give priority to bilateral relations.

Certainly, there are good moments in the CIS too-for example,
railroads, energy, combat with crime and drug trafficking. Most
sphere council are functions. By the way, while being the Cultural
Minister of Azerbaijan, I have been heading the CIS Council for
Culture for several years. As is known, the Council for humanitarian
cooperation, where I am the official representative of Azerbaijan,
has been created. The first session of CIS intellectuals was held in
Moscow, then in Astana and the next one is scheduled to be held in
Tajikistan. There is a move forward here.

– Were you appointed as the Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan to Russia two years ago by your own
wish or the decision of the senior leadership of your country? And
how do you feel here, living in Russia, being an ambassador?

– I feel well in your country. Russia is not an alian country for me. I
have toured it all along, visited different countries. People of my age
are now leading most Russian regions, they know me well and it is easy
for me to work. Thus, perhaps it is a little bit immodest but I want
to say: I think, our respected President has made the right choice.

I knew the administrative work well, before that I have been the
Culture Minister of Azerbaijan for 18 years, I have been appointed
for this post in the Soviet times. And in the mid 1990s I had to
establish culture bridges with UNESCO, Council of Europe and CIS.

All culture figures are ambassadors of peace. I have not graduated
from any special diplomatic schools but I did not have any problems
with the position. Both musicians and diplomats "write notes" and I
have no problems with it.

I am grateful to our President for appointing me the ambassador
to such a country as Russia, as it plays an important role in the
post-Soviet area. Russia also plays a serious role in the resolution
of the Karabakh conflict and I am from Shusha, my parents are from
Karabakh therefore, I know this problem from inside, which is critical.

– Do you think there are some problems in the Russian-Azerbaijani
relations, which require urgent resolution?

– I have taken part in the congress of Russian-speaking press,
which was also attended by Mr.Medvedev. Journalists asked him too
many questions including about xenophobia and racial intolerance. It
is no secret that we are concerned about this issue very much. Many
Azerbaijanis reside in Russia, work with the diaspora is a part of
the embassy’s work and we often face complaints about opression.

I was pleased to hear the speech of Dmitri Medvedev who said it is
the work of Russian law enforcement bodies to resist this evil and
it is necessary to bring violators to responsibility. He added that
the atmosphere of intolerance towards such events should be created
in press, electronic mass medias, television and the whole Russian
society.

I think such position is extremely important for our country, as
the North Caucasus is also Russia and most Caucasians are Russian
citizens. You know, my friend, great singer and national artist Zaur
Tutov was almost maimed in the street just because he did not look
like others, while he is a Russian citizen and he has always lived
in Moscow.

I am sure that such racial intolerance is inadmissible in such
highly-civilized country as Russia.

The Russian President was right to say that to date when new states
emerged, new, not always comfortable economic conditions were created-
all negative events in the society seem sharper. He correctly defined
the reason of the negative, but I would like to note that Russian
statehood should resist this evil and this is not only my opinion
but also the opinion of other ambassadors of the CIS states.

At the previous informal summit in Moscow, some CIS presidents,
including Ilham Aliyev, raised this issue. At that time Vladimir Putin
said Russian side will intensify its fight with any demonstrations of
nationalism. I am glad that new Russian President Dmitri Medvedev also
displays concern about this problem and voices readiness to resist it.