STATEMENT’S FROM ARMENIA ABOUT POSSIBLE RECOGNITION OF BREAKAWAY NAGORNO-KARABAKH ARE POLITICAL BLUFF: POLITICAL EXPERT

Today
767.html
Nov 26 2009
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with Azerbaijani political expert Fikrat Sadigov.

Day.Az: The Armenian side has recently announced that it might
recognize the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh as a sovereign entity. Do
you think Armenia will take such a move?

Fikrat Sadigov: I think that the Armenians are bluffing. This is
real political bluff aimed both at domestic audience and public of
Azerbaijan. They think having heard such threats, Azerbaijani public
will be frightened and wait for Armenia to recognize the separatist
entity.

Of course, Armenia is scared of those statement voiced by Azerbaijani
leadership about the outbreak of hostilities if the peace talks bring
no results.

I think that the Armenian side is disingenuous as usual seeking to
give legitimacy to an absolutely lawless processes and phenomena that
occurs in our region.

Q: What consequences recognition of the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh
may have for Armenia?

A: I believe that even if Armenia formally declares recognition of the
separatist Nagorno-Karabakh, it will a pure profanation. Not only its
partners and allies, but entire world community will condemn Armenia
for this move.

Moreover, if Armenia recognizes Nagorno-Karabakh, this would not
be great loss for Azerbaijan because Nagorno-Karabakh is occupied
Azerbaijani territory in any case.

Nagorno-Karabakh has already been de facto recognized by Armenia which
originally stood behind all these events and supported and supplied
the separatist Karabakh both materially and politically.

Also, the president and defense minister of Armenia periodically visit
the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and hold meetings there. So,
there is nothing new for us in this regard. Nevertheless, Azerbaijan
should not leave it unattended and should draw the appropriate
conclusions on the basis of norms and principles of international
law and bring these issues into discussion of world community.

Q: What response steps Azerbaijan can take if Armenia recognizes
independence of the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh?

A: There are four Security Council resolution which clearly state
that the Armenian forces must withdraw from occupied Azerbaijani
territories.

In the case of Armenia’s recognition of independence of the breakaway
Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry will need to raise
this issue at the UN, in order to have one of the resolutions altered
and have written there that the occupying party is not just Armenian
armed forces, but the Armenian Republic. In addition to the fact
that it does not admit it did it itself, but not through some of
Armenian forces, it still ignores international documents that were
once adopted and which clearly indicate the need for withdrawal of
armed occupying forces from Azerbaijani territory.

Thus, the picture depicted above is not in favor of Armenia at all
and will put the country in even more stupid and desperate situation.

In this case, Azerbaijan should also ask the UN General Assembly and
Security Council and other European organization to convene.

Azerbaijan will have to raise the issue of appropriate sanctions
against Armenia as an aggressor state, which does not only fulfill
earlier resolutions, plus flagrantly violates territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan and ignores interests of the international community,
especially those countries which are co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group.