ARMENIAN FLAG IN TABRIZ
by Zahid Safaroglu

Yeni Musavat
Dec 17 2008
Azerbaijan

Muslim and "fraternal" Iran is constantly deepening its relations
with the occupier, Armenia. These relations do not only cover the
economic and commercial areas. They also cover numerous joint projects,
including the construction of a gas pipeline from Iran to Armenia
and a water reservoir on the river Araz, any more. At issue is also
the political and diplomatic contacts, which are expanding every
year. It is the result of intimacy between the occupying country and
the Persian regime of Iran that there is almost nothing left before
an Armenian consulate opens in Tabriz [which is the capital of Iran’s
East Azarbayjan province]

The statement by the minister of energy and natural resources of the
occupying country, Armen Movsisyan, after his meeting with Iranian
Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki in Tehran leaves no doubt that
this is a real threat. If this is the case, the country called Iran
is demonstratively bracing itself to insult our people, play with
its feelings and concede us to the Armenians for another time. This
is because the existence of the Armenian embassy in Tehran is one
issue, while the opening of an Armenian consulate in Tabriz, which
is the moral and virtual capital of the united and great Azerbaijan,
is another issue.

Let us remember that they have been making initiatives to desecrate
Tabriz with an Armenian flag for a long time. But it is the first time
news has emerged that this initiative is so close to reality. That
is why the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs is obliged to
treat this issue flexibly and urge an explanation from Tehran. While
being a big city in a country called Iran, Tabriz is first of all
the great and ancient cradle of culture of the Azerbaijani people
and the beating heart of South Azerbaijan [northwestern Iran which
is predominantly populated by ethnic Azerbaijanis].

In other words, this issue can not be considered a purely domestic
matter of Iran. The opening of an Armenian consulate in Tabriz is
the same as the opening of the Armenian consulate in Azerbaijan. Can
you imagine it? So, what shall we do? Shall we sit and wait before
such a disgraceful event happens and the souls of the martyrs of
the 20 January massacre [by Soviet troops in Baku in 1990], Karabakh
[war in 1992-1994] and Xocali [massacre of Azerbaijani civilians by
Armenian troops in Nagornyy Karabakh 1992] are again disturbed?

Baku has another right to prevent this step by Iran. The matter
is that Azerbaijan has not opened a diplomatic mission in Israel,
which is considered to be Iran’s number one and eternal enemy, since
independence. The country has done so as a sort of gesture of good
will to Iran. In this sense, one should remind Iran a country which
harps on the solidarity of Muslim countries that Baku will immediately
open an embassy in Israel if an Armenian flag is installed in Tabriz.

But we think that voluntary patriotic forces in the south [northwestern
Iran] will prevent the opening of the Armenian consulate if the
Azerbaijani leadership can not do this in fear of Iran. In any case,
the national feelings and the feelings of revival are stronger in
the south than in the north [the Republic of Azerbaijan]. And this
creates certain confidence. But activists in the south also know that
by doing so the Tehran regime wants to test some people in the south,
insult or even break them.

To put it shortly, this is an issue of honour, a national matter both
for the south and for the north of Azerbaijan. Both for [Foreign]
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and for [Azerbaijani] ambassador [to Iran]
Abbasali Hasanov. By the way, one may wonder what ambassador Hasanov
is thinking about this issue?

This behaviour by Tehran can not but cause outrage. Putting Turkey
aside, Iran has failed to behave at least as the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan, which has not allowed the opening of an Armenian embassy
on its territory and has not established any ties with the occupying
country so far. But our southern neighbour must know for sure that
by giving the green light for the opening of an Armenian consulate
in Tabriz, Iran will strengthen its image of a "lizard giving poison
to a snake" in Azerbaijan.

We have shown some form of tolerance to most anti-Azerbaijani moves
by Tehran, such as the infringement on our sea and air borders,
the persecution, arrest and abduction of activists in the south,
the opening of schools for a handful of Armenians in Iran while
the basic rights of ethnic Azerbaijanis to culture and education
are rudely violated and [Iran’s] relations with Armenia. But the
issue of the consulate is completely different. We are sure that
residents of Tabriz and Baku will not tolerate seeing an Armenian
flag in Tabriz and will rise and pickets will follow one another in
front of the Iranian embassy in Baku. But the primary condition for
our intellectuals in both countries, the national press and young
people is to be vigilant and show a position of citizens. So, let
our eyes and legs have more power!