"WASHINGTON CAN PUT PRESSURE ON ARMENIA TO FREE AZERBAIJANI TERRITORIES, BUT DOES NOT DO IT"

Today
67737.html
May 12 2010
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with Azerbaijani political expert Fikrat Sadigov.

A couple of days ago OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs tried to organize a
meeting between Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers. But the
Azerbaijani side made clear it did not intend to hold a meeting for
the sake of meeting and Baku expects Yerevan to voice its attitude
towards the updated Madrid principles. What are your comments on
current situation?

I am very encouraged by Azerbaijan’s refusal to meet with the Armenian
side on day of anniversary of Shusha’s occupation. Thus, Azerbaijan
makes everybody to reckon with it. The Azerbaijani side has accepted
the updated Madrid principles and now expects Yerevan to reveal its
reaction to them. I think it is worthwhile to take a pause in talks
until Armenia does so.

Accepting the updated Madrid document, Azerbaijan has demonstrated
to the world community willingness to compromise. It should be noted
that these principles do not fully meet Azerbaijan’s interests.

Nevertheless, we have approved them in a hope that in the future we
will be able to solve some of the details that need clarification. In
turn, Armenia behaves rude and stupid. Dragging out the settlement
process, Yerevan behaves like a dog in the manger, thus risking the
loss of it last trump card in the negotiations.

How do you assess the action of the OSCE Minsk Group in respect to
Yerevan which delays a response to the updated Madrid principles,
foundation document for a peaceful solution?

I think precisely the OSCE should take the blame for Yerevan’s current
position. They should be interested in adoption of this document by
the two sides of the conflict. But the mediators do not demonstrate
this interest in the Karabakh negotiations undermining credibility
of the OSCE Minsk Group. The paradox is, small country like Armenia
undermines the authority of the great powers that mediate in peaceful
settlement of the Karabakh conflict. Of course, if the talks see no
progress, Azerbaijan will be forced to resort to military force. We
have a time limit and do not intend to tolerate more than that.

How do you assess the importance of Turkish-Russian relations in our
region as a whole and Azerbaijan in particular?

Turkey is a strategic ally of Azerbaijan, and Russia is our partner,
with whom relations are growing stronger day by day. Therefore,
Azerbaijan is very interested in development of Moscow-Ankara ties.

Lately, the U.S. has acted extremely inconsistent with respect to
Azerbaijan for some reason. It’s quite strange, considering the fact
that Baku, for example, has supported Washington in Afghanistan.

Afghan and Iraqi examples show that Washington can achieve its goals
when it really wants it. So, with regard to Armenia, the White House
has a resource to put pressure on Armenia to return the occupied
territories. But the United States does not want to do it. Given all
this, Moscow is closer to us both geographically and politically. I
believe that the development of Russian-Turkish relations can
positively affect the fair resolution of the Karabakh conflict.