ARMENIA NEEDS TO BE CLEARLY EXPLAINED THAT IRRATIONAL, UNCONSTRUCTIVE POSITION WILL BE FAILURE: TOP AZERBAIJANI OFFICIAL

Today.Az
cs/54914.html
Aug 24 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani Presidential Administration’s Political Analysis and
Public Relations Department Chief Elnur Aslanov spoke in an interview
with Day.Az.

Day.Az: Recently, Russia’s president Dmitry Medvedev held a meeting on
the Caspian cooperation in Astrakhan. How do you comment on the fact
that Moscow insists on the ban on deployment of military forces in
the Caspian Sea by non-regional countries while the U.S. is actively
cooperating with Azerbaijan as a part of the program "The Caspian
Guard"?

Elnur Aslanov: Azerbaijan is an active supporter of peace in the
region. We cooperate with the United States in a number of issues,
as well as with Russia. In all these respects Azerbaijan has an
understanding of national security issues. Everything we do meets
our national interest and is aimed at ensuring national security.

Q: How can replacement of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs impact
settlement of Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

A: A few days ago, I commented on this issue. This is issue of staff
rotation and inherent in all spheres. Naturally, we hope and expect
that each new co-chair will do everything so that Armenia will
eventually free the Azerbaijani territories.

Armenia needs to be clearly and unambiguously explained that the
irrational and unconstructive position will be failure. Today, Armenia
is totally crushed by global financial crisis and the situation in
the economic and political sphere in this country will deteriorate
every day. It is obvious to all. How long the Armenian leadership
will try to give hope to its citizens denying them democratic rights
and opportunities to live in peace with its neighbors? The Armenian
leadership needs to have a rational look at the blunders and mistakes,
because time is working against them.

Q: Please comment on the recent withdrawal of Georgia from CIS. What
impact this move can have on CIS?

A: This move was expectable following August events that took place
last year. The two member states had difficult relationship within
one organization and analysts described the possibility of their
improvement in the short term as remote.

As to CIS, this organization has experienced great difficulty in
proving its reliability and efficiency for many years. There are,
of course, attempts to save, change the format, to improve the
atmosphere … but, everything is solved at the bilateral level and
within personal relations of the States in the CIS. Of course, if
you ask what will happen to the CIS, the answer is that the CIS will
continue to operate, because there are certain economic preferences
of this union. But when one member of the Commonwealth occupies the
territory of another member, then naturally the question arises as to
how long this situation can persist. CIS is far from more effective
unions that provide economic security and prospect to their members

Q: In light of recent events, which include the Russia-Azerbaijan gas
agreement, intergovernmental agreement on the Nabucco project signed
in Ankara and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s visit to Turkey,
how you see future of the Nabucco project?

A: It is clear that Nabucco will be realized, especially since the
financial crisis in the West for a number of projections is on the
wane. This is a project of geo-economic nature, so it is of a very
big interest. But at the same time, we can see how more expedient
routes and projects are skillfully and efficiently organized. At a
time when everyone should think about its economic benefits no one
does not have to wait since we do not live in a period of planned
economy. Accordingly, some Western countries should understand
importance of such categories as mobility and speed, for a proverb
says: "Who are not at risk, he does not drink champagne."

Q: How do you assess political situation in the country on the eve
of municipal elections?

A: Municipal elections are an important step in terms of development
of a democratic state. Therefore, each of us should treat them with
utmost responsibility. We have a tradition and experience to hold
open and democratic elections and stability and desire to build
a democratic state. Of course, there is also a weak opposition,
which has already announced some blocs and alliances. Hopefully,
though with difficulty, they still be able to organize interesting
and effective promotion of their ideas and suggestions. I think,
it will be more interesting to discuss political situation in the
country in a period closer to the elections.