RUSSIAN ANALYST: ARMENIANS MAY START TO BEHAVE POORLY WITH RESPECT TO RUSSIA
H. Hamidov

Today
4179.html
March 16 2010
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with the professor, director of the Center for
Conservative Studies under the Moscow State University Sociology
Department, leader of the International Eurasian Movement and political
expert Alexander Dugin.

How do you assess the recent moves by U.S. Congress House Committee on
Foreign Relations and the Parliament of Sweden to adopt the resolution
on the so-called "Armenian Genocide" ?

First of all, I want to say that "genocide", if it really took place,
was a hundred years ago. Armenians suffered greatly because of their
pro-Russian geopolitical views. In this case, Armenians themselves
and Russians should show empathy with what happened at that time. But
now let’s see when and by whom this "genocide" was recognized. First,
the U.S. Congress Committee adopted a resolution. Later the Swedish
Parliament adopted the same decision. The Swedish parliament
recognized the "genocide" so that Americans will not be alone in
current situation.

Do you mean the Swedish parliament took this move under the
U.S. pressure?

I am sure of this. Swedish have significant historical or geopolitical
relations neither with Armenians nor Turks, Azerbaijanis and Americans.

Then why it happened precisely at this time?

It is because relations between Turkey and the United States have
spoiled lately. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s their relations
gradually cooled, and now the situation is on the verge of Turkey’s
withdrawal from NATO and reluctance to continue to integrate into
the EU. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Ahmet Davutoglu said
that it would be nice for his country to join the Eurasian alliance
with Iran, Russia and China.

Moreover, Turkey is rapidly moving closer to Russia.

Turkey’s is against Iraq adventure of the United States which threatens
to ruin Turkey itself, because Americans do not hide their sympathy
for Kurdish separatism. Thus, Turkey, in fact, comes from the zone
of U.S. influence on all fronts.

And we have already witnessed how local government has arrested
powerful Turkish military, who support withdrawal from NATO and oppose
the U.S. on trumped-up charges of "Ergenekon" at the insistence of
the United States. Meanwhile, the Government comes to understanding
that that it should withdraw from NATO. America understands this,
and it has recognized the "genocide" only at the level of the Congress
Committee so as to try to put pressure on Turkey.

Will this situation somehow affect the resolution of the Karabakh
conflict?

Recently, former Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said that
the current situation will lead to war over Karabakh between Russia
and Turkey. This is nonsense! Yes, Americans want the conflict over
Karabakh to break out partly trying to push Armenia and Azerbaijan
to this. However, both Russia and Turkey will do everything to ensure
that conflict does not happen. Therefore, they act in solidarity.

Throughout history of development of bilateral relations, such a
rapprochement took place at a time when Ataturk was in power. Moscow
has very good relations both with Armenia and Azerbaijan. Turkey also
has very good relations with Azerbaijan, and they are trying to improve
relations with Armenia. And if we all work together, we can neutralize
efforts of Americans to escalate the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Meanwhile, the Americans are trying to act mainly through Armenia.

They put pressure on Armenia to raise the issue of recognition of
Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state. However, they do not realize
that it is impossible for several reasons. Suppose that tomorrow the
international community will recognize Karabakh as an independent
state. In this case the international community will demand return of
Azerbaijanis there. This is human rights standards. We are all aware
that return of refugees in this case will result in a conflict, of
course. So, those persons in Armenia who are trying to rock the boat
of Karabakh are not Armenia’s friends. They act in the interests of
the U.S. against their Armenians.

So, on one hand, the United States supports Azerbaijan’s initiative
to return Karabakh through all possible ways and, on the other hand,
is pushing Armenians to consolidate efforts aimed at recognition of
Karabakh as an independent state. Everything is done with one purpose –
to escalate tension in the region.

In your opinion, is the opening the Armenian-Turkish border seem
possible under current situation?

I did not believe in opening of the borders even before these events
happened. The initiative was put forward by the U.S. to show how
Armenia is able to solve all its problems along with the United
States without Russia. In my opinion, it was clear anti-Russia
action. No more.

Of course, adoption of the resolution on "genocide" also causes a
danger for the Armenian-Russian relations. Being happy at so-called
"success", Armenians may start to behave poorly with respect to
Russia. Thus, the U.S. pushes Russia to the side of Turkey and
Azerbaijan. Moscow, however, will still try to maintain smooth
relations because Armenia is closely linked with Russia.