Today, Azerbaijan
Jan 6 2010
Azerbaijani parliamentarian: Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be solved soon
06 January 2010 [11:27] – Today.Az
Day.Az interview with member of Azerbaijan Milli Majlis (parliament)
Aydin Mirzazade.
Is resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict likely to see progress
in the first decade of 2010?
It is very hard to predict political process, since so many factors
impact the final result. There is no doubt the resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is moving forward. The present situation,
international situation, hopelessness of Armenia’s occupation policy
and Azerbaijan’s principle position in this matter will lead to
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict soon. But it is impossible
to predict exact time when it will happen.
Today, Armenia is forced to make a choice: either it accepts
international legal norms, builds normal neighborly relations with
neighbors, or it will gradually lose its national strength, and
finally, independence.
In your opinion, may the Turkey-Armenia protocols be ratified till
April 24, next anniversary of the so-called `Armenian genocide’?
Turkey has a specific position on this issue. Turkey will not ratify
the protocols until there is progress in resolving the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and until Armenia withdraws its troops from
occupied Azerbaijani territories.
One should not link ratification of protocols with the date April 24 –
a day of invented "Armenian genocide". Armenia often threatens Turkey
with possible recognition of this fictitious event by some countries.
Turkey, as a great state, is of great importance both for the world
community and in bilateral relations with major countries. Therefore,
any country is unlikely to exert political pressure on Turkey to
recognize the date of April 24 because of political ambitions of the
Armenian nationalists.
Such a move could lead to unpredictable consequences, in particular,
can spoil bilateral relations between Turkey and the countries that
can take such a step. Threats of Armenian nationalists are not serious
and ungrounded
Do you mean the Armenia-Turkey border is less likely to open till April 24?
Everything depends on settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The
Armenian-Turkish border may be opened only after agreement is reached
on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, regardless of whether it will happen
before or after April.
In your view, who will take the first step to promote normalization of
Armenian-Turkish relations? Ankara or Yerevan?
I think Turkey has already made its move in this regard. Despite
Armenia’s territorial claims against Turkey, Ankara signed the
Turkey-Armenia protocols.
Now it is up to Armenia, that is, it needs only to recognize
international law and abandon territorial claims to neighboring
states.
What steps Armenian may take to get Armenia-Turkey relations
normalized as soon as possible?
I think that Armenia would never agree to abandon its great power
ambitions, but the current situation compels it to sober up, because
Armenia’s policy leads to self-imposed isolation and absence of any
investments in the country’s economy.
N. Abdullayeva
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