EXPERTS URGE AZERI GOVERNMENT TO AVOID STATIONING OF PEACEKEEPERS IN KARABAKH
Baki Xabar
Oct 26, 2009
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan is said to make changes to its law on involvement in
peacekeeping missions which would, as some local experts think, be
tantamount to the loss of Karabakh. Baki Xabar daily reports that
changes to the law would mean stationing of peacekeeping forces
inside the country as stipulated in the Madrid Principles document
on a resolution of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over
Nagornyy Karabakh. In comments on a possible move of the Azerbaijani
authorities to have those changes endorsed by parliament under pressure
of superpowers, two experts on the conflict expressed almost identical
views that the possible stationing of peacekeepers would be tantamount
to loss of Karabakh. The following is the text of Musviq Abdulla
report by Azerbaijani newspaper Baki Xabar on 26 October headlined
"Some experts consider the law on peacekeepers as an integral part of
the Madrid Principles" and subheaded "Akif Nagi and Arif Yunus stick to
this opinion, moreover…" subheadings have been inserted editorially:
The Milli Maclis [parliament] is about to make amendments and addenda
to the law "On involvement in peacekeeping missions". A new draft
bill will soon be submitted to the discussions in parliament, the
security and defence issues committee of the parliament has reported.
Green light for peacekeeping inside country?
According to the proposed amendments, the deployment of international
peacekeeping forces on the territory of Azerbaijan would be added to
the law. Although the existing legislation envisages the involvement
of the Azerbaijani forces in international peacekeeping forces in
conflict zones, under the new option, Azerbaijan would allow such a
mission to take place on its territories. Political experts do not
consider it by chance for official Baku to adopt such a law when
efforts of international power centres have been stepped up for
the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. Ahead of the
opening of the Turkish-Armenian borders, this process is coinciding
with reports that in line with the Madrid Principles, five or seven
districts around Nagornyy Karabakh would be returned to Azerbaijan.
Superpowers see eye to eye on a Karabakh accord
Despite a campaign of propaganda that Armenia will not agree to
any compromise once the borders with Turkey are opened, we can see
emerging understanding between the USA and Russia over a stage-by-stage
resolution of the problem. From this standpoint, it would be wrong
to think that the situation depends on the will of Armenia. It is
another issue whether or not the proposed model of solution favours
Azerbaijan. However, the superpowers have agreed to cooperate over
the resolution of the problem on the Madrid principles instead
of creating obstacles to one another. The [recent] joint visit of
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Bako Sahakyan, the leader of
the Nagornyy Karabakh separatists, to Russia is highly likely to be
part of this process.
Political experts believe that Russia, which is taking steps back
under pressure of the West, can maintain the resolution of the problem
as proposed by the USA. We should recall that the Madrid Principles
stipulate the return of five districts in the first phase, granting of
a temporary status to Nagornyy Karabakh and then the determination of
Nagornyy Karabakh’s status through a referendum with the liberation of
Lacin and Kalbacar district at the final stage. If the five districts
are liberated, international peacekeeping forces must be stationed
in the zone of the conflict until a status of Karabakh is obtained.
Addressing the latest session of the Cabinet of Ministers, President
Ilham Aliyev said that Azerbaijan suggested that the districts around
[Karabakh] be returned and peacekeeping forces be stationed in between
these territories. It is likelihood that the expected amendments and
addenda to the law "On involvement in peacekeeping missions" serve
to this end. It is possible that in return for the return of five or
seven districts, an agreement would be signed between Azerbaijan and
Armenia on the non-use of forces for the resolution of the conflict.
Following this, peacekeeping forces are to be stationed in districts
liberated from Armenian troops as well as on state borders between
Azerbaijan and Armenia. Legal basis are now being prepared.
Peacekeepers in Karabakh is equal to loss of it, experts
Nevertheless, the news of possible deployment of peacekeepers is
causing concern. Akif Nagi of the Karabakh Liberation Organization
believes the approval of such a bill should not be allowed: "The
possible deployment of peacekeeping forces in Azerbaijan totally
runs against our state interests. We have been saying for a long time
that the stationing of international peacekeeping forces in Nagornyy
Karabakh will be tantamount to the loss of Karabakh. Regrettably,
official Baku consents to this under pressure of international
organizations. In their turn, international organizations want
Nagornyy Karabakh be handed over to Armenians. I think the Azerbaijani
authorities should not allow the deployment of peacekeeping forces
in Nagornyy Karabakh.
"If processes develop in line with this scenario, a proposal may
appear on the agenda under international pressure to grant the right
to the Armenian community of Karabakh through making changes to the
Constitution of Azerbaijan to hold a separate referendum there.
Therefore, I think Azerbaijan should demonstrate to the world that it
is inadmissible for international peacekeeping forces to be stationed
on its territory.
"Peacekeeping forces may only be stationed on the border between
Armenia and Azerbaijan. Because the latter has been subjected to the
Armenian aggression. I recall some members of parliament backing this
position a year ago. However, they have made up their minds under
international pressure now, trying to have peacekeepers stationed
here."
The leader of the Karabakh Liberation Organization thinks that without
involvement of a military peacekeeping contingent, Azerbaijan can
guarantee security of the Nagornyy Karabakh Armenians. This security
guarantee is possible to be determined through international legal
commitments. The amendments and addenda to the law "On involvement in
peacekeeping missions" must be removed from the agenda [of the Milli
Maclis]. This issue can be resolved between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Expert on conflicts Arif Yunus [of the Institute for Peace and
Democracy] considers that the changes expected to be made to the law
are harbingers of preparations for the stationing of peacekeepers
around Nagornyy Karabakh. The expert also suggests that Azerbaijan
should make efforts to prevent it: "There is no doubt that the new
bill aims to make the deployment of peacekeeping forces around Nagornyy
Karabakh a law proceeding from the Madrid Principles.
The stationing of peacekeepers stipulates the cession of Nagornyy
Karabakh from Azerbaijan in return for surrounding districts.
Armenians have repeatedly said that they will return the surrounding
districts. [You should] simply agree to the annexion of Nagornyy
Karabakh. That is to say, surrounding districts will be returned, and
Nagornyy Karabakh would be given a status close to independence. With
such a move, Azerbaijan may lose Nagornyy Karabakh.
And peacekeepers should be stationed around Karabakh to prevent a
war to break out. I have also to stress that the composition of the
peacekeeping forces mean a lot. If a contingent is made up of the
Russian armed forces, it would never be possible to pull it out from
there. Forget about the peacekeepers if they are stationed there. If
there still remains faint hope for the return of Karabakh, one should
get rid of it once peacekeepers are there."