AZERBAIJAN NEEDS PERMANENT PEACE WITH ARMENIA RATHER THAN PEACE PROCESS

news.az
May 20 2010
Azerbaijan

Tofiq Abbasov News.Az interviews Lider TV expert, political scientist
Tofiq Abbasov.

I will probably start our interview with a bit unexpected issue. A
number of local and even foreign political scientists recently say
that the worsening economic, demographic problems, as well as problems
in Armenian army and the democratization level of this country will
force Armenia to disavow its destructive position in the process of
negotiations on the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict
over Karabakh. Meanwhile, official Yerevan does not take any steps. In
addition, Armenians voice their claims on Nakhchivan more clearly.

Does it mean that the local political scientists are too optimistic
and mistaken in their forecasts?

Not all local and especially foreign political scientists support
your point of view speaking of the prospects of settlement of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Karabakh. The growing claims
and appetites of our neighbors comply with the traditional logic of
Armenians according to which "the more you demand, the more you get".

In addition, this is Armenians’ attempt to distract the attention of
the community from the dangerous position of Yerevan that continues
undermining the negotiation process around the Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict.

Finally, we should not forget that the actions of official Yerevan are
defined outside Armenia. The diaspora, Russia, United States, France
continue controlling this "sovereign" formation. Unlike Armenia,
Azerbaijan has voiced its clear position on the updated Madrid
principles and it expects Armenia’s reaction. Baku’s position is that
the conflict settlement must be implemented within the framework of
the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan that is after the withdrawal
of Armenian troops from the occupied lands.

Then why do almost all foreign experts, political scientists rule
out the fact that Azerbaijan may restore its territorial integrity
by way of war due to the unconstructive position of Armenia in the
negotiation process?

Experts and political scientists are free to make their forecasts or
voice opinions but the real state of affairs does not depend on this.

Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity will be restored by any means.

Otherwise, Azerbaijan will never take purposeful steps to raise army
and defense capacity. Several days ago our country took part in martial
exhibition Forex in Amman (Jordan). Being new in such events, we have
managed to present about 50 types of arms. This proves that Azerbaijan
is developing its defense capacity. Therefore, it is possible to say
that the country will be able to restore its territorial integrity in
case the political process does not give any expected result. We should
not forget that Azerbaijan needs permanent peace with Armenia. If our
neighbors do not make concessions themselves, we will have to force
them to do so.

Here we should assess our opportunities in the information war with
Armenia rationally. Has Azerbaijan been successful in informing
the world community about the real causes and implications of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Karabakh and is our country ready
for information war with Armenia in case of the start of operation
on deoccupation of the occupied lands of our country?

Azerbaijan has long been losing Armenia in information warfare. But
currently the situation has changed dramatically and the advantage
is on our part. This has been proven by the conference on "Regional
conflicts in mass media" that was held in Israel. Participation of
our colleagues showed that our mass media, the expert community
in information war with Armenia take not defensive but offensive
position. This explains the nervousness of the Armenian side that
sometimes does not understand what it is doing and that it makes
unforgivable mistakes. Our most important achievement is that the
world has a clear understanding about who is an aggressor and who is
a victim of aggression in the Karabakh conflict.