AZERBAIJANI POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: THIS IS A REAL IDEOLOGICAL PROVOCATION BY ARMENIA

Today
April 19 2010
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with political commentator at Azerbaijan-based Lider
TV Tofiq Abbasov.

In your opinion, what is the goal of Turkish FM’s trip to Azerbaijan
that is taking place almost right after the recent Washington meetings?

It shows that Davutoglu will trip to Azerbaijan on a delicate mission.

The visit aims to persuade Azerbaijan not to distance itself from
contacts with Turkey and the United States. Turkey has remained true
to its original idea, and it still goes ahead with reconciliation
with Armenia not without pressure from Washington, of course.

It should be noted that from the very beginning process had a
separate character and the first steps towards the Armenian-Turkish
reconciliation were made in secret from Azerbaijan. In its turn,
Azerbaijan took the necessary steps to stop the process.

Therefore, Turkey’s ruling party is trying to persuade the Turkish
society that opening the border with Armenia will be the first step
toward stabilization in the region and towards resolving the Karabakh
problem.

America, who first initiated the project of reconciliation Turkey,
puts pressure not on those who ignore international law and continues
to occupy foreign lands, but on those who are victims of international
lawlessness.

In your opinion, what will top agenda of Armenian President Sargsyan’s
Russia visit to take place on April 20?

No doubt, regional issues will be discussed at this meeting. But
I think that for the most part this meeting will be devoted to
the Karabakh issue in the context of American initiatives since
the situation is still controlled by Washington. Sargsyan received
necessary dose of moral support when in Washington. Otherwise, he
would not "castigate" Turkey because of the notorious "genocide".

However, Russia will never allow the United States to play a major
role in this process.

Yerevan believes Armenian President’s U.S. trip was a success in
terms of Sargsyans’ negotiations with Erdogan and his meetings and
speeches in front of the Armenian Diaspora. How do you evaluate the
visit and relations between Armenia and the Diaspora?

Armenia believes this visit was a success because the Azerbaijani
delegation was absent at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.

Armenians interpret the absense of Baku officials at the forum in
their own way, although things are quite different.

As for Sargsyan’s meetings with the diaspora and U.S. officials, they
are described in different ways. Armenia is a country which occupies a
compromising position with all the grandees in all matters, except for
so-called "genocide" and the seizure of Azerbaijani lands. The country
has no real leverage to influence solution to any significant problem.

The Armenian diaspora and Yerevan have always held the same position.

The Armenian media reports that Turkey and the U.S. allegedly push
Azerbaijan to war…

This is a real ideological provocation by Armenia. Turkey does not
want Azerbaijan to become involved in military action. In the Karabakh
problem, Turkey’s ruling party holds a position radically different
from that held by previous cabinets. Ankara has visibly distanced
itself from Baku, and therefore tries to save face before its voters
and not lose Azerbaijan.

By the way, abrupt change of course can be very painful for Turkey in
the future. Turkey has been a permanent ally of Azerbaijan since 1993.

The two countries have continuously weighted the steps in the energy
and transport projects, coordinated actions also in the ideological
direction, especially in eliminating a myth about "genocide".

Priorities for Turkish leadership have changed as of late. Not only
Azerbaijan, but also Turkish society are unhappy with this. But
friends’ opinion is important for Azerbaijan. There are plenty of
them even in the ruling Justice and Development Party.

As to the U.S., it has always been against military solution to
the Karabakh conflict. Both at the official level and in private
negotiations, all emissaries and special envoys of America warned
Azerbaijan against the force option. Probably, not the last causes is
the firm belief of Americans that the use of military force is the
sole prerogative of the United States. But this is not a guarantee
that all will agree with this.