azerbaijan.az
Dec 6 2009

Novruz Mammadov: `The Process of opening the Turkish-Armenian Borders
became Positive Accelerator in the Solution to Nagorno Karabakh
Conflict’

Chief of the International Relations Department of the Presidential
Administration Novruz Mammadov gives an interview to some news
agencies of Azerbaijan.

The department chief spoke about the negotiation process over the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict, meetings between the presidents and foreign
ministers and etc.

– How do you see development of Munich meeting between the Azerbaijani
and Armenian presidents and Athens meeting between the foreign
ministers?

– Munich was the sixth meeting this year between the presidents of
Azerbaijan and Armenia toward the solution to Nagorno Karabakh
conflict. This statistics shows how the negotiation process was
intensified. Generally, Azerbaijani president has demonstrated very
concrete and principal position since the beginning of 2009 and
directed the attention of international community, particularly the
leading countries such as US, Russia and France and others, as well as
international organizations to the importance of the solution to the
conflict. This was very important process. Certain process took place
in the region and the president has showed very concrete position on
that since the beginning of the year. The president expressed his
position during the different contacts and meetings that it is time to
solve this conflict and it is very urgent and actual and has great
significance for the region. This issue was raised at the meetings
with the US President, Secretary of State and other officials, at the
different meetings with the Russian leadership, during the
correspondence with the French leader. The issue became urgent and
intensified the negotiations. At the same time, the process of opening
the Turkish-Armenian borders became positive accelerator in the
solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict. If the world community,
powerful countries attach great attention to the South Caucasus and
make efforts for stability and security in this region, first issue to
be addressed here is the solution to Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.
The first issue is that. Then let them to solve other issues second
and third. Azerbaijani president made very strong statements
concerning the solution to the conflict and character of the talks in
this period, particularly in recent time. I think all these have an
impact on the negotiation process. Some statements alarmed the
Armenian leadership and on the other hand attracted the attention of
world leaders and leading countries to this issue. From this view,
comments made at the OSCE foreign ministers’ meeting mean that there
is a positive dynamic in the negotiation process. There were other
different statements too. Even Foreign Minister of France Bernard
Kouchner said under the present circumstances a framework agreement
might be signed. This is a very optimistic statement. I think while
making this statement he analyzed all processes thoroughly and
grounded his position from his point of view. I approach such
statements a little carefully, as I always observe hypocritical,
insidious position of Armenian leaders, have seen in the negotiations
held within 10-15 years, know that they are not principled in their
positions, express a certain position in one meeting and backtrack on
their position in another meeting. Azerbaijani President shows all his
efforts, takes all steps for the solution to the conflict. It has
always been so and is continuing. But I want to point out two
important factors as the recent moment of the negotiations carried out
with Armenia within a year. First, the main fact attracting attention
in these processes is that Obama, Clinton, Medvedev, Lavrov, Sarkozy,
Kouchner have issued statements. Second, at the background of these
processes Armenian leaders once more realized that this conflict must
be solved sooner or later and the solution to the conflict plays a
very big role in their future. This conflict is a serious obstacle to
most of their plans. This obstacle has always been, and if they did
not realize it, this is their tragedy. They should have realized it
when Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project was realized. But in the last moment
they saw that this problem impedes the opening that they want to
realize even with the help of the world. Turkish Prime Minister has
today said that he will tell the Americans if they want all the
problems in the region solved, opening to be realized normally, first
of all Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh should be
solved. I think the solution to Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over
Nagorno Karabakh will be one of the main themes of discussions between
Turkish Prime Minister and the U.S. President. In general, speaking of
the recent negotiations, the Athens meeting was as if a final, it
demonstrated a common position. Now the continuation of the positive
process is one of the urgent issues.

– The statement issued in Athens was negatively assessed by the
Armenian opposition. They accuse Armenian leadership of betrayal. How
does this document differ from the previous ones?

– Actually, this statement does not differ much from the previous
ones. Simply, the position of the Armenian leadership is not stable.
The situation in Armenia is complicated. There is an episode in tales:
The ogre has a glass, there is a bird in it and they say the bird will
fly away as soon as it is opened. And this is the end of the ogre’s
life. This is the same for Armenian leaders: no matter who is leading
the country, the solution to the conflict plays the role of a bird for
them. If the conflict is solved, each of them will become an ordinary
person, maybe the person hated by most in the society. That’s why they
are very careful. There are circles in the Armenian society that begin
to accuse their leaders of betrayal, when a new step is taken. If the
Armenian leaders had been wise enough, had not created this problem
early in the 90s, or those who backed them had told that it would not
be favorable for them, then maybe Armenia would have profited 5, 10,
or even 15 times more. The problems in economy, finance, security, and
in terms of the relations with Turkey would have been solved. The
Armenians comment on the self-determination as they want and regard it
as the establishment of a separate state. Whereas the
self-determination may be solved in various variants and this has been
widely spread in the world. In Russia tens of nations achieved
self-determination within the framework of the Russian Federation. We
can give tens of examples in other states, too.

Indeed the fortune of Armenians living in Karabakh was solved before
the collapse of USSR. Simply the Armenians didn’t understand that. If
they understood that, they would provide Nagorno Karabakh with large
autonomy and continue to live in other cities and regions of
Azerbaijan. No one had such opportunities they had in Baku in that
time. They would reach everything with support of their patrons,
Diaspora and lobby and achieve great opportunities. But now they lost
all that. They harmed Armenian state and people. They are in difficult
situation, but didn’t want to acknowledge that. Leading countries are
making efforts to save them now. It was possible to show financial
support to them earlier, but now during then financial crisis it
became difficult. Today 10-150 million dollars is quite enough normal
for any country. Therefore all over the world show their position to
pull out Armenia from this situation. It needs to open borders with
Turkey to save Armenia. There are two million people in Armenia who
can reach normal life with Turkey’s support. There is no principle for
them, they are acting faithless. According to their principles,
Armenians shouldn’t agree with that, but as you see, what steps they
are doing and what methods they are using. There is no sense to seek
faith and principles in the Armenian society. Their leadership,
political parties and different circles make ridiculous offers to
argue their position. It needs to accept it as political show.

via: