17 March 2010 [18:33] – Today.Az
Day.Az interview with Azerbaijani political analyst Rasim Agayev.

What are your comments on Turkish PM Erdogan’s interview with BBC in
which he warned of possible expulsion of 100,000 illegal Armenian
migrants from the country if Yerevan "does not get rid of the mortgage
of the Armenian diaspora?"

Armenia has become involved in a geopolitics game thinking like a
young girl fond of her own fantasies believing that she is most
beautiful and desirable for all and forgetting sometimes to look in
the mirror to see a huge difference between her fantasies and real
picture.

Armenia’s reluctance to look in the mirror reached its peak after the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the U.S. Congress adopted a
resolution on the mythical "Armenian genocide". This is despite the
fact that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during Guatemala
trip stated that the U.S. Congress will not consider a resolution on
the so-called "Armenian genocide".

So, still being in some kind of intoxication over the above
resolution, Armenia does not want to give up fantasies, while those
who contribute to these fantasies using this weak side for their own
purposes and while the future, especially economic and social survival
of ordinary people of this country is dependant on its geopolitical
environment.

Erdogan’s statement was the first serious warning was for
Armenians. The fate of not only representatives of the Armenian
nation, but also that of illegal Armenian migrants in Turkey depends
on whether Armenia will draw appropriate conclusions from this
statement. Turkey tired of immoral actions of the world Armenians and
the Republic of Armenia, in a serious mood.

In other words, you mean that Turkey may also close its air border
with Armenia?

This is quite possible scenario of events and outcome of Armenia’s
actions towards Turkey. Inspired by fantasies, Armenia has forgotten
that Turkey is a regional superpower which has enough leverage on
it. Closure of the Turkish-Armenian air border, as fraction of steps
that Turkey can take with regard to Armenia.

What will be world community’s reaction to Turkey’s steps then?

It will only voice regret over Turkey’s actions at most or it would be
simply inappropriate to bring any claim to Turkey. Turkey is free to
act based on its own national interests, it is quite powerful and
influential not to respond to the biased view of some countries. And
finally, it has every right to fight phenomenon of illegal migration.

In your opinion, what impact return of 100,000 Armenian migrants to
home may have on situation in Armenia?

I am sure there is large number of criminals among Armenians illegally
residing in Turkey. In this regard, it is appropriate to recall the
sharp decline in crime rate in Azerbaijan after 1990s due to fact that
Armenian criminals left the country in large number because they
constituted overwhelming percentage of criminals.

It is possible that certain percentage of Armenian criminal elements
is now in Turkey. I am confident that their move to Armenia, which
faces terrible social and economic situation, could lead to the most
appalling consequences for the country. As a whole, this country, not
being able to properly feed those already living on its territory,
will experience enormous problems in case huge number of people with
lost earnings comes returns home.