Today.Az, Azerbaijan
Jan 5 2009
Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Germany: "If the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan is not restored, there will never be peace and stability in
the region"
05 January 2009 [11:05] – Today.Az
Day.Az blitz-interview with Azerbaijani ambassador to Germany Parviz
Shahbazov.
– A conference on the variants of resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict from the Azerbaijani point of view has lately been held in
the Berlin office of the political fund of Conrad Adenauer. Armenian
mass medias wrote much about it claiming that Azerbaijan was
recommended to reconcile with the established situation. Could you
please, being one of the participants in the event, inform an
Azerbaijani reader about what was really going on at the conference?
– I agree with you and I would like to note that as usually Armenian
mass medias have their specific approach towards the information about
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in the way that is favorable to
Armenia. It is not new to us.
First of all, I would like to note that those who spoke at the
conference informed in details about the position of Azerbaijan noting
that Azerbaijan supports the peaceful resolution of the conflict in
the framework of the territorial integrity of the country.
Representative of the German fund of policy and science Uwe Halbah and
referent of the secretariat of the faction of the Bundestag
Christian-Democratic faction Reine Dornzeifer voiced their own
opinions, supported the peaceful resolution of the conflict and
recommended to use the mediation of international organizations,
including the Council of Europe for the resolution of the conflict.
Refuting the information of Armenian mass medias, I would like to note
that Dornzeifer did not say that Azerbaijan must reject a part of
lands. He noted that Azerbaijan and Armenia must find ways out of the
established situation.
In a response it was confirmed that Azerbaijan is interested in the
soonest resolution of this conflict and uses all ways for the purpose.
As for the Council of Europe, it was noted that the due resolution on
the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict was adopted in the framework of this
organization in 2005. This resolution says that the Armenian armed
forces occupied a part of Azerbaijani lands, held ethnic cleansing and
currently the occupation is going on. The resolution says that the
Council of Europe is deeply concerned with the situation.
It should be noted that Armenian mass medias informing about the
conference did not say anything about the report of famous German
researcher on South Caucasus and Central Asian countries Johannes Rau.
Such approach proved again that statements, published in Armenian mass
medias, are of propagandist nature. Rau said in his report that the
conflict resolution must base on the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan, Armenian armed forces must be withdrawn from the occupied
lands. As for Nagorno Karabakh, this region can be granted a high
automony and the relations between Baku and Khankendi must be built in
the vertical way.
He added that being a researcher he studied the position of the
Armenian public and researches showed that Armenian public has an
ambiguous attitude towards the occupation of Azerbaijani lands and in
most cases it is against it, being aware that there will not be peace
in case of violation of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. To
prove his words, he listed the quotes from the statements of some
Armenian politicians.
The event was attended by some Armenians Gayane Apinyan and
L.Sargsyan, who attempted to introduce themselves as representatives
of Nagorno Karabakh Republic in Germany.
In this connection after my appeal to the representative of the fund
of Conrad Adenower, Hefelei, chairing the conference, was informed
about the status of these persons. He said the fund does not recognize
any structure as a permanent representative of "Nagorno Karabakh
Republic" in Germany and the said people can take part in the event
only as individuals, residing in Germany.
I also voiced my protest to the fact that Apinyan claims to be
permanent representative of non-existing "Nagorno Karabakh Republic"
in Germany. I noted that Apinyan holds a provocative activity in
Berlin, attempting to get political dividends from misinforming not
only German NGOs, but also state and legislative structures.
The German government does not recognize the separatist regime
functioning in the occupied lands of Azerbaijan and the structure,
which Apinyan claims to represent, is not registered in Germany. It
allows to call Apinyan and his colleagues as impostors.
Moreover, I have noted that there is no such concept as "Nagorno
Karabakh people". Azerbaijani and Armenian communities have coexisted
in the Nagorno Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. During the conflict a
part of Azerbaijani community was terminated as a result of ethnic
cleansing, while another part was driven away from the
lands. Therefore, such people as Apinyan, have no right to speak on
behalf of the Karabakh people.
I would like to note that the leadership of Azerbaijan, that supports
the resolution of the Karabakh conflict, has been taking all possible
measures in this direction and in the future it intends to continue
efforts in this direction. Yet, there is a limit to the patience of
Azerbaijani people. Under international law, application of force
against the territorial integrity allows Azerbaijan to give an
adequate response. In case the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is
not restored, there will not be peace and stability in the region. The
future development of the South Caucasus region depends on the
resolution of the Karabakh conflict.
– What can you say about the level of intergovernmental relations
between Azerbaijan and Germany?
– Azerbaijan and Germany maintain strong and developing relations.
Both countries are interested in the greater development and deepening
of cooperation. Currently most spheres in the bilateral relations
including political, economic, cultural-humanitarian – are developing
successfully and deepening.
Mutual visits, numerous documents, events in economic, political and
cultural spheres, are main indicators of bilateral relations. Two
official and one working visit of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
to Germany have become a greater stimulus to deepening of relations.
The year of 2008 was full of significant events in the history of
relations between Azerbaijan and Germany. The year of Azerbaijan was
held for the first time in the relations with the Western European
countries in Germany. Under support of the Azerbaijani President with
participation of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, other state
structures, German and Azerbaijani NGOs, as well as representatives of
Azerbaijani diaspora about 100 cultural events in the framework of the
year of Azerbaijan were held in Berlin and other federal lands of
Germany from March until December of 2008.
These events were playing an important role in the familiarization of
Europe with Azerbaijan, presenting true facts about our country. The
event on closing the year of Azerbaijan, was held in Stutgart, in the
capital of the federal land of Baden Wurttemberg. Coverage of the year
of Azerbaijan by German mass medias, including such TV and radio
channels as RBB and SVR, attracted attention of the German public to
our country.
Weeks of German culture will be held by a decision of the German
government in Azerbaijan to continue cultural relations in 2009.
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