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LOSS OF FRIENDLY TIES WITH BAKU 'CREATES PROBLEMS' FOR TEHRAN
Lala B.
news.az
Aug 16, 2011
Azerbaijan
News.Az interviews MP Fazil Mustafa, leader of the opposition Great
Creation Party and a member of the Azerbaijan-Iran parliamentary group.
How may Azerbaijani-Iranian ties be affected by the recent criticism
of the Azerbaijani leadership by the chief of the Iranian Armed Forces
General Staff and Baku's subsequent note of protest? Maj-Gen Hassan
Firouzabadi said that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev might face
"a dark future" as the "people's awakening cannot be suppressed". He
also implicitly criticized Azerbaijan for relations with Israel and
banning "Islamic rules".
There is serious resentment amongst the Iranian military elite of
the country's political leadership. The chief of the General Staff
of the Iranian Armed Forces, Hassan Firouzabadi, is reported to hate
the country's religious leader, Ali Khamenei. Therefore, instead of
criticizing Ali Khamenei, he turned his resentment on the Azerbaijani
leadership in order to be heard. In reality, these statements prove the
differences inside Iran. In other words, he showed that he ignores the
country's leadership. But given the fact that Iran is a totalitarian
entity, people in its leadership address their resentment at the
domestic situation to heads of foreign states.
In this respect, I can say that these statements run counter to the
interests of Iran, since the loss of friendly ties with neighbouring
countries, particularly with Azerbaijan, creates problems for Iran.
Figures such as Firouzabadi would be of more use to their people if
they criticized their own leaders.
After the remarks, some Iranian leaders said there were powers
interested in worsening Azerbaijani-Iranian ties. Are there such
forces and what are they interested in?
Iran is a totalitarian country and there are no second or third
parties in such states. In such states, there is only one party,
which is the political regime of Iran. For this reason, this political
regime makes such statements to avoid responsibility. I think that
the arguments of the Iranian side are groundless and are Tehran's
theses about Azerbaijan. Until Iran apologizes to Azerbaijan, Baku
must give Tehran the same treatment to put it in its place.
Members of an alleged Islamic grouping named Jafari were arrested in
Azerbaijan after the Iranian officer's remarks. They face charges
of working for the Iranian side. Are observers right to say that
the arrests were Baku's response to Maj-Gen Firouzabadi's criticism
of Azerbaijan?
There are no doubts that there are numerous Iranian-funded groups
in Azerbaijan, because Iran spends a great deal on spreading its
ideology. But all the same I cannot say for sure that drugs and arms
are found on the majority of the arrested members of such groups,
especially those who say they adhere to Islam. I don't want to believe
that those who work for Iran could keep drugs at home or in their
pockets in the month of Ramadan. But it's important that the law
enforcers of Azerbaijan found these groups.
The Iranian side periodically offers to mediate in the settlement of
the Karabakh problem. But how sincere and acceptable can the proposals
of the Iranian side be for Azerbaijan?
None of the countries involved in settlement of the Karabakh conflict
take Iran's proposal seriously. Moreover, Iran has offered its
assistance to Armenia to help this country get out of crisis. Tehran
uses all means to assist Armenia and this is what constitutes Iran's
mediation. Therefore, the countries of the region do not take seriously
the Iranian side's proposals on settling the Karabakh conflict.
Azerbaijan has repeatedly said that it will not allow its territory
to be used against Iran. Might Baku change its position on this issue
following the criticism from the Iranian commander?
Azerbaijan does not favour the use of its territory against Iran.
Given that Azerbaijan is a country neighbouring Iran, it will not
allow any state to use its territory for such purposes. However, in
the event of a threat or irresponsible statements from Iran, such as
the one recently made â~@~Kâ~@~Kby the chief of staff, Azerbaijan can
discuss its security with other countries, including the United States.
We will need to find allies against a country that we regard as
friendly, but that sees us as its enemy. Tehran should bear this
in mind. Otherwise, Azerbaijan will have to be involved in steps
against Iran.
Lala B.
news.az
Aug 16, 2011
Azerbaijan
News.Az interviews MP Fazil Mustafa, leader of the opposition Great
Creation Party and a member of the Azerbaijan-Iran parliamentary group.
How may Azerbaijani-Iranian ties be affected by the recent criticism
of the Azerbaijani leadership by the chief of the Iranian Armed Forces
General Staff and Baku's subsequent note of protest? Maj-Gen Hassan
Firouzabadi said that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev might face
"a dark future" as the "people's awakening cannot be suppressed". He
also implicitly criticized Azerbaijan for relations with Israel and
banning "Islamic rules".
There is serious resentment amongst the Iranian military elite of
the country's political leadership. The chief of the General Staff
of the Iranian Armed Forces, Hassan Firouzabadi, is reported to hate
the country's religious leader, Ali Khamenei. Therefore, instead of
criticizing Ali Khamenei, he turned his resentment on the Azerbaijani
leadership in order to be heard. In reality, these statements prove the
differences inside Iran. In other words, he showed that he ignores the
country's leadership. But given the fact that Iran is a totalitarian
entity, people in its leadership address their resentment at the
domestic situation to heads of foreign states.
In this respect, I can say that these statements run counter to the
interests of Iran, since the loss of friendly ties with neighbouring
countries, particularly with Azerbaijan, creates problems for Iran.
Figures such as Firouzabadi would be of more use to their people if
they criticized their own leaders.
After the remarks, some Iranian leaders said there were powers
interested in worsening Azerbaijani-Iranian ties. Are there such
forces and what are they interested in?
Iran is a totalitarian country and there are no second or third
parties in such states. In such states, there is only one party,
which is the political regime of Iran. For this reason, this political
regime makes such statements to avoid responsibility. I think that
the arguments of the Iranian side are groundless and are Tehran's
theses about Azerbaijan. Until Iran apologizes to Azerbaijan, Baku
must give Tehran the same treatment to put it in its place.
Members of an alleged Islamic grouping named Jafari were arrested in
Azerbaijan after the Iranian officer's remarks. They face charges
of working for the Iranian side. Are observers right to say that
the arrests were Baku's response to Maj-Gen Firouzabadi's criticism
of Azerbaijan?
There are no doubts that there are numerous Iranian-funded groups
in Azerbaijan, because Iran spends a great deal on spreading its
ideology. But all the same I cannot say for sure that drugs and arms
are found on the majority of the arrested members of such groups,
especially those who say they adhere to Islam. I don't want to believe
that those who work for Iran could keep drugs at home or in their
pockets in the month of Ramadan. But it's important that the law
enforcers of Azerbaijan found these groups.
The Iranian side periodically offers to mediate in the settlement of
the Karabakh problem. But how sincere and acceptable can the proposals
of the Iranian side be for Azerbaijan?
None of the countries involved in settlement of the Karabakh conflict
take Iran's proposal seriously. Moreover, Iran has offered its
assistance to Armenia to help this country get out of crisis. Tehran
uses all means to assist Armenia and this is what constitutes Iran's
mediation. Therefore, the countries of the region do not take seriously
the Iranian side's proposals on settling the Karabakh conflict.
Azerbaijan has repeatedly said that it will not allow its territory
to be used against Iran. Might Baku change its position on this issue
following the criticism from the Iranian commander?
Azerbaijan does not favour the use of its territory against Iran.
Given that Azerbaijan is a country neighbouring Iran, it will not
allow any state to use its territory for such purposes. However, in
the event of a threat or irresponsible statements from Iran, such as
the one recently made â~@~Kâ~@~Kby the chief of staff, Azerbaijan can
discuss its security with other countries, including the United States.
We will need to find allies against a country that we regard as
friendly, but that sees us as its enemy. Tehran should bear this
in mind. Otherwise, Azerbaijan will have to be involved in steps
against Iran.