AZERBAIJANI MP: A MINORITY IN ARMENIA UNDERSTAND THEIR FUTURE IS DEPENDENT ON AZERBAIJAN
Today
Dec 28 2009
Azerbaijan
Day.Az: Following signing of the Armenian-Turkish protocols, the
relations between Yerevan and the Armenian diaspora became tense. Do
you believe the diaspora will impact Armenia’s position on these
protocols?
Gudrat Hasanguliyev: The Armenian Diaspora is a special, maximalist
organization which has its own corporate interests. There is a minority
in Armenia which understands that future of their country depends
on normalization of relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan while the
diaspora strongly rejects it. Armenians living abroad do not want to
establish any relations with Turkey at all.
It should be noted that Armenia is a dependent state with many of its
decisions being made in Moscow. In its turn, Russia is interested in
open borders between Turkey and Armenia as it has stated many times.
Armenia is not also against opening of borders, but it does not want
to give up claims of recognition of an imaginary "genocide". Thus,
Armenia is trying to obtain benefits without sacrificing anything.
May Armenia withdraw from the Turkey-Armenia protocols under the
pretext of Turkey’s delaying ratification of these agreements?
On one hand, this move is possible. One example is Armenia’s
political line which implies Yerevan’s condemnation of the conditions
(Armenia’s return at least seven occupied regions of Azerbaijan)
which Ankara has put forward as a precondition for ratification of the
Armenian-Turkish protocols. On the other hand, when we (Azerbaijani
MPs) met with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan he told
us that Moscow asks him to open the border with Yerevan to ease the
difficult economic situation prevailing in Armenia. In other words,
it is beneficial for Armenia to open borders with Turkey. In this
situation, I am more inclined to this view that Armenia will not
withdraw from the protocols.
What steps Turkey and Azerbaijan need to take to optimize their
cooperation and to strengthen positions on international issues of
common interest?
I think Azerbaijan and Turkey have a wide range of issues to discuss.
This is particularly security in the region as well as
military-technical cooperation. Close cooperation in this area is
very appropriate.
In addition, recently Armenia and Turkey have been reported
to maintain economic relations. Therefore, the dialogue between
Turkey-Azerbaijan should be aimed at preventing emergence of economic
relations between Turkey and Armenia via third countries (for example,
Georgia). Moreover, the two fraternal states must seek sanctions
against the country-occupier from the OIC and the UN Security Council.
Turkey should serve as a model for other states in their relations
with the aggressor country like Armenia.
Lately the press has increasingly reported that Baku and Yerevan
are holding active discussions on return of Armenia-occupied seven
regions of Azerbaijan. Do you think Armenia is ready for such a move?
As I mentioned above, Armenia is a dependent state. To ensure progress
in resolving the Karabakh conflict, Baku should work more closely with
Moscow on the one hand, and actively develop their potential with
army on the other. We need a dialogue with Russia to ensure that it
has taken a constructive position on the Karabakh conflict. In turn,
the military build-up is important for us make it clear for Armenia
that the conflict with Azerbaijan will lead them to disaster.