TIME TO RECONSIDER: THE LIMITS OF KARABAKH
By Elnur Aslanov

Today’s Zaman
March 15 2010
Turkey

South Caucasus, 2010… Twenty-two years of conflict between Azerbaijan
and Armenia.

For those who still do not know, it is a conflict revolving around
the ancient Azerbaijani territory of Nagorno-Karabakh now occupied
by Armenia. The conflict has turned more than 1 million people into
refugees and caused enormous damage to regional economic development.

Numerous potential economic and political projects that would have
brought the South Caucasus closer to Europe have been sidelined. The
South Caucasus has sunk into an abyss of conflict, the analysis of
which has troubled the world’s leading powers. All Azerbaijanis have
been expelled from Armenia, while 20,000 Armenians still reside in
Azerbaijan. Nationalist sentiments are growing constantly in both
states. Mothers fear the beginning of war, while politicians calculate
the risks.

But for what? For the sake of "the misguided initiative" of a certain
political power that governs Armenia, a small South Caucasus republic
of about 3 million people? Nobody can disagree that the principle of
territorial integrity is a fundamental principle of international law.

And surely no one can think that Nagorno-Karabakh will ever become an
independent actor in international relations. So what is it all about?

Is it not better to live in peace in your own country and enjoy all the
boons and privileges bestowed by the social and economic development
of a country rich in energy resources?

Today, the Karabakh Armenians have food for thought. Azerbaijan is
a country of ancient traditions, at the heart of which lies tolerance.

Historically we have proved this to be true, and it has often been
used against us. We continued to live in peace with the Armenians even
after the genocide of Azerbaijanis in March 1918. We continued to
consider Baku an international city, despite the active resistance
of the Armenian population to the declaration of Azerbaijani as
the official language in the constitution of 1956. Prior to the
onset of the conflict, an elite part of the city of Baku was even
called "the Armenian settlement." We Azerbaijanis continued to see
the events of 1988, when the Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict began,
as a misunderstanding and believed that fraternal people could not
act like this. In 1988, when provocations by Armenian circles led to
bloodshed in Azerbaijani cities such as Sumgayit, many of us believed
that it would still be possible to change things. Years have passed,
but irrationality has grown in Armenia.

Today, two decades later, a TV channel and a news agency in the
Armenian language function in Azerbaijan. What about Armenia? The
answer is obvious: none. We understand better that the South Caucasus
is a common house, and we call on Armenia to renounce unconstructive
politics and halt the pressure on their compatriots.

The Armenians of Karabakh would be happy to live in houses where
there is light, warmth and amenities. They would like to enjoy the
fine infrastructure that would open them up to the intensive economic
development of Azerbaijan. Certainly, the Armenians of Karabakh dream
of the social security system, public health services, education
and other social benefits and advantages that are available to the
residents of neighboring Azerbaijani cities. Moreover, the Armenians of
Karabakh would be part of the social life of the country that they used
to live in. What have the years of conflict given to those whose lives
are in misery in Karabakh? Why do they agree with the aspirations of
"outside forces" that prevent them realizing the ideal of living in
peace in their own state, Azerbaijan?

Today Armenians live in Azerbaijan, while in Armenia there are no
Azerbaijanis. There are citizens in Azerbaijan with Armenian surnames;
there are none with Azerbaijani surnames in Armenia. We have proved
that we are capable of living together despite war and loss, pain and
sacrifice. Strangely enough, we have been tolerant of the people whose
leadership has been waging war against us for our ancient lands for 22
years. The Armenians should now prove that they are capable of living
together with us. The South Caucasus is a common house for the people
settled there, and the time has come to realize this. Armenians moved
to Karabakh a little more than two centuries ago, but we understand
that for the Armenian families that have lived there for generations
Karabakh has become a native place. However, the fact that Karabakh
belongs to the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan should not
be questioned.

Unfortunately, the Armenians of Karabakh fell hostage to the leaders
of Armenia and the field commanders who served their own mercantile
interests. War is money, and every Armenian in Karabakh should realize
that by protracting the prompt resolution of the conflict, they line
the pockets of war criminals. The military leadership understands
full well that they will never achieve their purposes and continues
to strain the situation by increasing the expenditure of an already
scarce budget on the construction of various defense systems. They
reiterate to the public the same theses that it would be possible to
ensure public security only in the case of independence. Nevertheless,
let us take a sober look. Nagorno-Karabakh, granted autonomy with
comprehensive privileges of self-administration within Azerbaijan,
will become a focus of international attention.

Undoubtedly, each step of the central authority, the leadership of
Azerbaijan in Karabakh, will be closely watched by the international
community. The nonsense that if the Armenians of Karabakh are part
of Azerbaijan their lives will get worse or they will be forced to
leave all the territories at once does not hold water. The superpowers
will ensure security guarantees for the local population. Azerbaijan
already put its signature to security guarantees for the Azerbaijani
and Armenian populations of Nagorno-Karabakh in the resolution of the
1996 Lisbon Summit. Azerbaijan is willing to return its territories
and refugees home through peaceful means and to turn Karabakh into
a prosperous region. The population of this region can only benefit
from this, be they Armenian or Azerbaijani.

It’s time to face the truth. New prospects are opening up, so it is
necessary to stand firm and thwart the pressure from outside, to decide
to live in agreement and peace for the sake of future generations. What
does the younger generation in Karabakh believe today? Fairy tales
about "independence"? But where is the life worth living: education,
pensions, public health services? It’s time to decide who will live
under what circumstances — whether to continue to create more broken
destinies, damaged lives and deprived families or to abstain from
illusory pseudo-ideas that instill only enmity and hatred.

It’s time to reconsider, but time is always pressing.

*Elnur Aslanov, Ph.D., is the chief of the department of political
analysis and information provision, Office of the President of the
Republic of Azerbaijan.