Vafa Guluzade explains amendment to US Department of State’s human rights
report with presidential elections
ANS
23.04.2007
Azerbaijan’s diplomacy suffered a great defeat before Armenians.
Political scientist Vafa Guluzade explains amendment to US Department
of State’s human rights report for 2006, where it doesn’t recognize
Daqliq Qarabaq as occupied Azerbaijani territories with forthcoming
presidential elections. Political scientist Vafa Guluzade told ANS
correspondent he didn’t want to comment on the issue: `Don’t involve
me in the issue, US Embassy to Azerbaijan made clear its position, I
think that’s all’. When asked why, `It is trifle issue, it American
policy has already practiced it. The embassy’s statement means
more’-he avoided the question. Later he linked the issue to 2008
presidential elections: `It seems forces in power in US doesn’t want
to hurt Armenian Diaspora in America. That’s why; they made this
amendment to get them on their side. But we should not take it
seriously. They always do so to get Armenians on their side before
presidential elections in US. They say they will recognize `Armenian
genocide’. After elections, nominee forgets his promise to Armenians
and doesn’t recognize `genocide’-V.Guluzade advised not to take matter
so seriously. Armenians accused Kocharyan government of
behind-the-scenes bargaining with Azerbaijan, predicted the issue
would betabled in UN Security Council and be resolved in favor of
Azerbaijan. Armenian government was pessimistic about the then
developments. Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said in his
March 12 statement: `US position is clear. I think it is wrong step,
but the report is already published and one can do nothing about
that’. But developments in past half a month changed everything. US
Department of State didn’t consider Armenia occupant at all and thus
Azerbaijan diplomacy lost its past 5-6 years achievements. 5-6 years
ago US stressed`Armenian armed forces, not Armenia occupied Daqliq
Qarabaq and these forces usually were considered Daqliq Qarabaq’s. Now
Azerbaijan diplomacy has fallen behind that and occupation is at all
out of question, the case only is `keeping under control’. The issue
has taken so sharp turn that Azerbaijan government canceled Washington
visit of Azerbaijani delegation to hold bilateral security
consultations. Azerbaijan’s diplomacy suffered a great defeat.