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Iranian studies expert: Azerbaijan, Turkey jointly implement program
of splitting Iran
14:04 06/04/2013 » INTERVIEWS
Iran sent note of protest to Azerbaijan over the recent forum of the
anti-Iranian South Azerbaijan National Liberation Movement held in
Azerbaijan on March 30. The Iranian Supreme Leader's representative,
Chairman of Iran's Majlis Committee on National Security and Foreign
Policy and Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman harshly responded to
Baku.
Panorama.am held an interview with Iranian studies expert Armen
Israyelyan asking him to comment on recent tension in the relations
between Iran and Azerbaijan and the causes of the tension.
- What is the cause of the tension in the relations between Baku and Tehran?
- Although Baku says in response to the note of protest from Iran that
the activities of anti-Iranian separatist groups are not linked to
state policy, nevertheless, several days before the forum of South
Azerbaijan National Liberation Movement, MP from the Azerbaijani
ruling party Siyavush Novruzov stated that he wanted to become the
chairman of the Iranian Azerbaijan's parliament, which means that
Azerbaijan directly and indirectly supports anti-Iranian pan-Turkist
groups.
- Does Turkey have a role in it?
- Of course, when we confront the facts, we see that Azerbaijan and
Turkey jointly implement a program of splitting the northern provinces
of Iran. South Azerbaijan National Liberation Movement held a
conference titled `The role of Southern Azerbaijan in the Turkish
world' in Ankara in January 2013, attended by former and current
Turkish state officials. Moreover, the ambassador of Turkey to Iran
attends the games of Tabriz Football Club with his country's flag and
supports the team of Iran's Turkish-speaking Azeris.
- What perspectives do you see in Iran-Azerbaijan relations?
- The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the Azerbaijani ambassador to
Iran for several times over a number of issues in 2012. At the end of
the previous year, when Iran appointed a new ambassador to Azerbaijan,
there was an impression that the bilateral relations between Iran and
Azerbaijan normalized to some extent. Two or three years ago, the
parties made territorial claims through media, while currently it is
done on the level of officials.
I think Azerbaijan, instigated by Turkey and Israel, tries to reduce
to a minimum its relations with Iran.
As for the perspective of the relations between Iran and Azerbaijan,
they are unlikely to normalize in the near future in view of the
disputes between the two countries (the dispute over the legal status
of the Caspian Sea, border incidents, problems with Iran's
Turkish-speaking Azeris, disputes over historical and cultural issues,
military cooperation between Israel and Azerbaijan). As the previous
experience shows, under the current problems, the atmosphere of mutual
distrust will maintain in the future.
Source: Panorama.am
of splitting Iran
14:04 06/04/2013 » INTERVIEWS
Iran sent note of protest to Azerbaijan over the recent forum of the
anti-Iranian South Azerbaijan National Liberation Movement held in
Azerbaijan on March 30. The Iranian Supreme Leader's representative,
Chairman of Iran's Majlis Committee on National Security and Foreign
Policy and Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman harshly responded to
Baku.
Panorama.am held an interview with Iranian studies expert Armen
Israyelyan asking him to comment on recent tension in the relations
between Iran and Azerbaijan and the causes of the tension.
- What is the cause of the tension in the relations between Baku and Tehran?
- Although Baku says in response to the note of protest from Iran that
the activities of anti-Iranian separatist groups are not linked to
state policy, nevertheless, several days before the forum of South
Azerbaijan National Liberation Movement, MP from the Azerbaijani
ruling party Siyavush Novruzov stated that he wanted to become the
chairman of the Iranian Azerbaijan's parliament, which means that
Azerbaijan directly and indirectly supports anti-Iranian pan-Turkist
groups.
- Does Turkey have a role in it?
- Of course, when we confront the facts, we see that Azerbaijan and
Turkey jointly implement a program of splitting the northern provinces
of Iran. South Azerbaijan National Liberation Movement held a
conference titled `The role of Southern Azerbaijan in the Turkish
world' in Ankara in January 2013, attended by former and current
Turkish state officials. Moreover, the ambassador of Turkey to Iran
attends the games of Tabriz Football Club with his country's flag and
supports the team of Iran's Turkish-speaking Azeris.
- What perspectives do you see in Iran-Azerbaijan relations?
- The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the Azerbaijani ambassador to
Iran for several times over a number of issues in 2012. At the end of
the previous year, when Iran appointed a new ambassador to Azerbaijan,
there was an impression that the bilateral relations between Iran and
Azerbaijan normalized to some extent. Two or three years ago, the
parties made territorial claims through media, while currently it is
done on the level of officials.
I think Azerbaijan, instigated by Turkey and Israel, tries to reduce
to a minimum its relations with Iran.
As for the perspective of the relations between Iran and Azerbaijan,
they are unlikely to normalize in the near future in view of the
disputes between the two countries (the dispute over the legal status
of the Caspian Sea, border incidents, problems with Iran's
Turkish-speaking Azeris, disputes over historical and cultural issues,
military cooperation between Israel and Azerbaijan). As the previous
experience shows, under the current problems, the atmosphere of mutual
distrust will maintain in the future.
Source: Panorama.am