news.az, Azerbaijan
Nov 21 2009
Double standards hinder Karabakh conflict settlement
Sat 21 November 2009 | 10:20 GMT Text size:
Elnur Aslanov Elnur Aslanov, head of the political analysis and
information department at Azerbaijan’s presidential administration,
comments to News.Az on the process to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.
"The double standards applied in relations with the South Caucasus
countries are among the real hindrances to the Karabakh conflict
settlement. Everyone knows that territorial integrity, which is an
imperative principle of international law, was violated and lands were
occupied. Therefore, the world community should differentiate between
the aggressor and the victim. On the other hand, this illegal
situation can be assessed as a crime against peace, and the state
should be held internationally and criminally responsible. In this
respect, the world community must be aware of its responsibility, try
to act lawfully and not to repeat historical mistakes.
"Unfortunately, different approaches are applied to equivalent
conflicts today. Historical experience shows that the application of
double standards sometimes leads to the strengthening of one party and
to a deadlock in negotiations. Therefore, the active role of the
international community in the Karabakh conflict and its determined
position may create favourable conditions for the settlement of the
conflict.
"The unsettled conflict also hinders regional development as regional
cooperation is possible only between countries that respect the
principles of good neighbourliness and do not have territorial claims
against each other. Armenia is isolated from regional economic
projects as its policy of occupation contradicts the principle of
regional cooperation. The settlement of the Karabakh conflict is the
only way to end Armenia’s isolation and its regional integration.
"It should also be noted that as the main initiator and executor of
projects in the region, Azerbaijan will never agree to Armenia’s
participation in these projects before it withdraws its troops from
the occupied lands. Azerbaijan will increase political and economic
pressure on Armenia until the occupation ends. This is the main tool
in restoring the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
"If Armenia really wants to demonstrate a positive and sincere
approach, it should first withdraw its troops from Azerbaijan’s lands.
"However, the position of the Armenian leadership is not sincere. They
are more concerned with the negative impact of the current situation
on Armenia’s economy. Armenia is among the countries most affected by
the world financial crisis, therefore, it is not difficult to imagine
its current state. Furthermore, a greater part of its state budget
comes from transfers from the diaspora. As the diaspora has faced the
world crisis, this has affected the Armenian state budget too.
"In these conditions, the Armenian economy is deteriorating and this
will further affect internal political stability. The domestic
political situation worsens when there is no progress in people’s
living conditions and when no positive changes are expected.
Therefore, the Armenian leadership should realize that peaceful
coexistence with neighbours and participation in regional cooperation
meet their interests."
Jamil Bayramov
News.Az