ELDAR IBRAHIMOV: WE SHOULD AGREE TO THE MADRID PRINCIPLES – INTERVIEW

APA
Aug 3 2009
Azerbaijan

"Departments of Azerbaijani parliament should be abolished"

"I was one of those sentenced to death"

Baku. Elbrus Seyfullayev – APA. Chairman of Azerbaijani parliament’s
committee for agrarian policy Eldar Ibrahimov interviewed by APA

-If I am not mistaken, you have the most experience as a
parliamentarian in Azerbaijani parliament.

-Yes, I have. I have been member of the parliament since 1985. In
this interview I want to speak about some moments in my life that I
have never shared with. I studied in school in the 1950s. There were
hard times. Our family was large – seven brothers and a sister. Our
father died early. The collective farm gave food products to us. We
get higher education. I held various posts in Nakhchivan. I was
elected member of Nakhchivan Supreme Council in 1985. I always
respected people. I was the first to supply Nehrem and our village
Jehri with water. In 1990 I was elected member of Azerbaijani Supreme
Council from Jehri village. At that time Heydar Aliyev returned to
Nakhchivan and was elected parliamentarian from Nehrem village. I
met with him in Nakhchivan. He said to me: "You are holding a post,
they will dismiss you for contacting with me." I said: "A position
is not permanent." I have always been brave.

-The most broadcasted footage concerning the 1992 events, is your
effort to speak to Heydar Aliyev over the phone in the parliament. What
did you want to do then?

-The meeting of the Supreme Council was held on May 18, 1992. People’s
Front Party came to power, Isa Gambar was to be the chairman of the
Supreme Council. At that time I nominated Heydar Aliyev. They wanted to
ignore my proposal. But I insisted. According to the legislation, the
nominee must participate in the session, or must give consent. That’s
why I went upstairs to phone Heydar Aliyev. First deputy chairman of
the Supreme Council Ziyad Samadzadeh came with me. But the telephones
were cut off. After Ziyad Samadzadeh returned from the room, he gave
information about my phone call. As Azerbaijani audience knows it, I do
not want speak in details. Then Arif Rahimzadeh approached me and said
he agreed with me. There was great threat to my life at that time. I
was told that I will be killed, if I leave the parliament. Deceased
parliamentarian Kamran Rahimov led me through the back door. They
beat every parliamentarian, who left the building. Later, I was one
of those who were sentenced to death when New Azerbaijan Party was
established. I have secrets that I will never talk about.

-Unlike the other representatives of "group 91", you do not want to
speak about what you did at that time…

-Those who had great role do not speak about it. Those who simply were
in the "group 91" speak. Unfortunately, there are such people. Heydar
Aliyev and his successor Ilham Aliyev always appreciated my merits.

-Is it difficult to be a parliamentarian, or not?

-Experience, knowledge and talent is needed first of all. My committee
adopted 62 draft laws, let alone amendments and annexes. About 200
laws have come up to now. It is difficult. But I enjoy this work. My
24-year experience helps me. I work with experienced persons.

-But we do not see all parliamentarians work hard.

-Chairmen of committees and several specialists in the committees
do all difficult work. Unfortunately, parliamentarians can not make
efforts concerning the laws adopted in the committees. Sometimes they
do not have time for it.

-What changed after the commissions turned into committees?

-There must be changes in fact. The committees in the Russian
parliament have high authority. Our Constitution does not
envisage such authority. A committee is not subordinated to
the department. Departments are subordinated to committees. The
committees work out the law and put it to the discussion of the
parliament. Therefore, the committees provide all services. For now,
we work basing on old rules. The Azerbaijani parliament does not need
legislative department now. They should be abolished and merged with
the committees. Parliamentarians, not departments are responsible for
the legislation. They should operate within the committees. It is so
in the countries, where there are committees. All this will happen
in future.

-You are deputy head of Azerbaijani delegation to OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly. Can we expect the Nagorno Karabakh to be solved within OSCE
Minsk Group?

-I have always criticized OSCE Minsk Group. But suppose America
and Russia are estranged from co-chairmanship. What will happen
later? These are the biggest states of the world. Religion
and language factors also play great role in the solution of
the conflict. Moreover, Armenia is one of Russia’s outposts,
provinces. We can not be as Armenia. Russian and U.S. Presidents
have met recently. Unfortunately, they did not speak about Nagorno
Karabakh. Protraction of the conflict favors them. They do not want
the problem to be solved and a strong state like Azerbaijan to be
established in the South Caucasus. I hope Nagorno Karabakh conflict
will be solved basing on Madrid principles. There are different views,
but I support these principles. For now, release of five regions and
return of the IDPs to the native places is a good proposal. Later,
economic relations may be established and Nagorno Karabakh’s status
may be determined. We should agree to the Madrid principles. Of course,
if Armenians do not flee again. But they also understand and say that
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity should be ensured. I believe that
the problem will be solved due to the political will of Ilham Aliyev.

– How do you feel at the age of 64?

– I have good health. My job and my friends encourage me. I was
happy with my wife, two sons and daughter at one time. I was a man,
who caused envy of people. There are people who envy me today as
well. My colleagues at the parliament see me as an elder.

– Why you say that you were happy at one time? Don’t you feel
happy now?

– I never talk about that, but all Azerbaijan knows it. My son
came to a tragic end in Iran in 2001. Loss of child is painful for
every parent. Despite that 8 years have passed since that tragedy,
I can’t come to life still. At that time alongside with my friends,
Heydar Aliyev, whom I see as my father, calmed and encouraged me. He
was frequently calling me after my son’s death. Every time when he
called me I cried as a little child. I never talked about that and
it was painful for me.

– Was your son single?

– No. He was married. I bought for him an apartment, but he never
lived there. He left for Iran on august 1, 2001 and his body returned
home on august 31. Therefore I can’t feel happy. My friends never
leave me alone, but they can’t cause me to forget this pain. The
sons frequently forget the fathers’ death. I saw that. My father
and brother died. I have no foe, but if I have I never wish him a
loss of his child. I will be happy when I can celebrate wedding of
my grandchildren. Only after that I can meet my son blameless.

– How old are your grandchildren?

– His daughter is 13, son is 11. The children are growing. I also
lost my father at early age. I named my son Rza, after my father. Now
his son is named after me. There are many people to calm me, but
no one knows what is in my heart. I had many hard concussions after
that tragedy.

– How do you feel when you visit Iran?

– I feel very hard. Once when I was in Iran I wanted to see that place
where he met with an accident, but the guys didn’t allow me. I think
that I have to live.

– Who is your consolation in such time?

– I have irreplaceable friends. Fattah, Siyavush, Hadi, Huseynbala,
Ziyafat, Arasatun and other colleagues at the parliament are very
attentive to me. They don’t leave me alone. I am thankful to them. Even
journalists have special attitude to me. I have to be better. I always
respected everyone I met in my life. If you want to be honorable, be
honest. I always see every woman outside as my mother and sister. May
God prosper all of you. Today Milli Mejlis is my family. I see everyone
there, even the oppositionists as a member of my family.

– How are your relations with a "head of this family"?

– I am respecting Ogtay Asadov as a man and parliament speaker. He
is also respecting me. I have good relation with vice speakers. I
never have disputes with anyone, even the opposition lawmakers. The
oppositionists didn’t protest me even in that time when I seriously
criticized them.

– Do you think to run for the next parliamentary elections?

– I am never acting willfully. There is New Azerbaijan Party and I
am one of its founders. If the party recommends me I will run. If it
doesn’t recommend, I will receive my pension and continue as a member
of the party. I will save loyalty to my party even I will be jobless. I
was among those people who faced with the difficulties when this party
was founded in Nakhchivan. There is no harm in the foundation of this
party. I will never back out from this path. Azerbaijan is rapidly
developing today and President Ilham Aliyev has great contribution
to this development. I am always saying true.

– How do you live?

– I am living together with my wife, daughter-in-law (wife of late
son) and her children. I am receiving 2000 AZN as a committee chairman
and about 1000 AZN of pension. We have very simple life.

– What are your other children doing?

– My daughter is a teacher and she is married with very good man. My
son is working at the Ministry of Taxes as a department chief. He was
also making his career step-by-step like me. I never demanded bribe. If
I helped someone and he presented me some suit, I received it.

– How are your relations with your grandchildren?

– They are the meaning of my life. I have very clever and beautiful
grandchildren. Our family has own rules. The children should face
with the difficulties to care about the life. No one can be arrogant.

– How do you spend spare time?

– I have a friend whom I am playing backgammon and billiard with. I
am watching sport competitions and news on TV. I love to travel to
the regions of Azerbaijan. Every year I am traveling to Esentuki for
holiday and treatment. Thanks to Allah, I have good health.