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BRITISH MP: FOR AZERBAIJAN THE ISSUE OF KARABAKH IS A MATTER OF AMBITION, FOR ARMENIANS OF KARABAKH, IT IS A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH
13:51 12.02.2014
Nagorno-Karabakh, UK
"For Azerbaijan the issue of Karabakh is a matter of ambition, for
the Armenians of Karabakh, it is a matter of life or death," Stephen
Pound, MP from the Labor Party, said during the debate in the UK
House of Commons on UK policy towards Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan.
"It is difficult to understand and almost impossible to appreciate
the full extent and horror of the war that raged between February
1988 and May 1994 in Nagorno-Karabakh," he said.
"In 1994, it was recognized that it was, in effect, a frozen conflict.
The Minsk group is working as hard as it can to move matters forward,"
the MP said, adding, however, that "matters along the line of contact
are not good."
Twenty soldiers were killed along the ceasefire line in 2013, despite
the existence of the ceasefire. There were nearly 200 ceasefire
violations between 2 and 8 February of this year. Often, the violations
involve people firing across the border, including snipers, but there
are also more violent incidents. The line of contact is porous and
is coming under increased pressure.
"I think that we have a crucial role to play. There is not a massive
amount of trade between the United Kingdom and Armenia. Fewer than 10
UK firms are active in Armenia. We gave Armenia £882,000 in aid last
year. I pay credit to our remarkable joint ambassadors in Yerevan,
Kathy Leach and Jonathan Aves, who work extraordinarily hard to
progress British trade interests in the area. However, we could do
much more. By contrast, Azerbaijan was given £1,335,000 in aid over
the same period, and we have very close trade links. The United
Kingdom is actually the 15th largest trade partner of Azerbaijan,
and the major role of BP in oil extraction, refining and marketing
cannot be underestimated," Stephen Pound stated.
Inddition, the British MP reminded that "we are approaching the
anniversary of the great Armenian genocide of 1915." "If ever there was
a time when this House could look to Armenia with support, friendship
and solidarity, it is as we approach this anniversary," he added.
Mr. Pound noted that every time the Armenian Genocide has been
discussed at the House of Commons, the MPs have chosen to use comments
such as "the so-called genocide."
"That is a shame, because I would have thought that if there is
one thing the House can agree on it is that a genocide of the most
horrendous proportions did take place in Anatolia, Van and what was
then called Western Armenia. The 1915 genocide was the third genocide
and was particularly horrendous. Would it not be a good thing if we
were to lend our support, put our shoulder to the wheel, and try to
move Minsk forward in time for the commemorations of this appalling
genocide?" he stated.
"I am not Armenian and I am not Azeri. I do not have a drop of blood of
either of those nations in my veins. However, I cannot help but note
that even though much of what we talked about this evening appears to
be in the past, it is a past that still resonates," Me. Pound added.
"Many people will know the situation that occurred on 18 February
2004. Extraordinarily, soldiers from Azerbaijan and Armenia were
present at a NATO partnership for peace activity in Budapest. One
Azerbaijani soldier, Ramil Safarov, decided to buy an axe and take
the head off an Armenian soldier, Gurgen Markarian. This happened in
Hungary in 2004. This is not ancient history; this is recent history.
At the time, the Azerbaijan human rights commissioner said that Safarov
must become an example of patriotism for Azerbaijani youth and the
National Democratic Party awarded him the man of the year award in
2005. When the Hungarians released Ramil Safarov, he returned to
Azerbaijan to be promoted to the rank of major. He received eight
years back pay and was given accommodation. It is that raw and it is
that recent. My point is that these emotions simply cannot be allowed
to fester. When we have a feeling of animosity between two peoples
that leads to a fellow soldier on a NATO joint exercise decapitating
another soldier, that is something intensely felt and we must be able
to somehow push that forward and improve the situation," he stated.
"The British Government cannot demand action, but what we can do is to
show our concern. We have an opportunity to put down a marker: to say
it was an awful, bloody and terrible war, but that it finished 20 years
ago. Let us finally end this awful conflict, and allow two nations
to emerge into the sunshine to live in peace. Then we can talk about
human rights, but at least let us talk without the sound of gunfire,
without the smell of cordite and without the chill anticipation of
death," Mr. Pound stated.
Mark Simmonds, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign
and Commonwealth Affairs, added, in turn: "It goes without saying that
finding a lasting solution will be vital in alleviating the suffering
still felt in the region. I am extremely grateful for the work being
done to raise awareness of that tragic conflict. Of course, it does
not need to be said that we are not much further on than we were 20
years ago, and we are almost at that 20th anniversary."
"The UK is concerned by the ongoing breach of the ceasefire along the
line of contact as well as along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. There
were reports of increasing numbers of ceasefire violations in January
and early February, as he rightly mentioned. We were pleased that
the Presidents of both countries committed to a truce during the
winter Olympics. While fighting continues, there is always a danger
of escalation, whether that is deliberate or not, and we urge both
sides to exercise restraint and avoid provocation," he added.
"We consistently urge Armenia and Azerbaijan to work with the Minsk
group to reduce tensions and create an environment conducive to a
peaceful, long-lasting settlement," he stated.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/02/12/british-mp-for-azerbaijan-the-issue-of-karabakh-is-a-matter-of-ambition-for-armenians-of-karabakh-it-is-a-matter-of-life-or-death/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
13:51 12.02.2014
Nagorno-Karabakh, UK
"For Azerbaijan the issue of Karabakh is a matter of ambition, for
the Armenians of Karabakh, it is a matter of life or death," Stephen
Pound, MP from the Labor Party, said during the debate in the UK
House of Commons on UK policy towards Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan.
"It is difficult to understand and almost impossible to appreciate
the full extent and horror of the war that raged between February
1988 and May 1994 in Nagorno-Karabakh," he said.
"In 1994, it was recognized that it was, in effect, a frozen conflict.
The Minsk group is working as hard as it can to move matters forward,"
the MP said, adding, however, that "matters along the line of contact
are not good."
Twenty soldiers were killed along the ceasefire line in 2013, despite
the existence of the ceasefire. There were nearly 200 ceasefire
violations between 2 and 8 February of this year. Often, the violations
involve people firing across the border, including snipers, but there
are also more violent incidents. The line of contact is porous and
is coming under increased pressure.
"I think that we have a crucial role to play. There is not a massive
amount of trade between the United Kingdom and Armenia. Fewer than 10
UK firms are active in Armenia. We gave Armenia £882,000 in aid last
year. I pay credit to our remarkable joint ambassadors in Yerevan,
Kathy Leach and Jonathan Aves, who work extraordinarily hard to
progress British trade interests in the area. However, we could do
much more. By contrast, Azerbaijan was given £1,335,000 in aid over
the same period, and we have very close trade links. The United
Kingdom is actually the 15th largest trade partner of Azerbaijan,
and the major role of BP in oil extraction, refining and marketing
cannot be underestimated," Stephen Pound stated.
Inddition, the British MP reminded that "we are approaching the
anniversary of the great Armenian genocide of 1915." "If ever there was
a time when this House could look to Armenia with support, friendship
and solidarity, it is as we approach this anniversary," he added.
Mr. Pound noted that every time the Armenian Genocide has been
discussed at the House of Commons, the MPs have chosen to use comments
such as "the so-called genocide."
"That is a shame, because I would have thought that if there is
one thing the House can agree on it is that a genocide of the most
horrendous proportions did take place in Anatolia, Van and what was
then called Western Armenia. The 1915 genocide was the third genocide
and was particularly horrendous. Would it not be a good thing if we
were to lend our support, put our shoulder to the wheel, and try to
move Minsk forward in time for the commemorations of this appalling
genocide?" he stated.
"I am not Armenian and I am not Azeri. I do not have a drop of blood of
either of those nations in my veins. However, I cannot help but note
that even though much of what we talked about this evening appears to
be in the past, it is a past that still resonates," Me. Pound added.
"Many people will know the situation that occurred on 18 February
2004. Extraordinarily, soldiers from Azerbaijan and Armenia were
present at a NATO partnership for peace activity in Budapest. One
Azerbaijani soldier, Ramil Safarov, decided to buy an axe and take
the head off an Armenian soldier, Gurgen Markarian. This happened in
Hungary in 2004. This is not ancient history; this is recent history.
At the time, the Azerbaijan human rights commissioner said that Safarov
must become an example of patriotism for Azerbaijani youth and the
National Democratic Party awarded him the man of the year award in
2005. When the Hungarians released Ramil Safarov, he returned to
Azerbaijan to be promoted to the rank of major. He received eight
years back pay and was given accommodation. It is that raw and it is
that recent. My point is that these emotions simply cannot be allowed
to fester. When we have a feeling of animosity between two peoples
that leads to a fellow soldier on a NATO joint exercise decapitating
another soldier, that is something intensely felt and we must be able
to somehow push that forward and improve the situation," he stated.
"The British Government cannot demand action, but what we can do is to
show our concern. We have an opportunity to put down a marker: to say
it was an awful, bloody and terrible war, but that it finished 20 years
ago. Let us finally end this awful conflict, and allow two nations
to emerge into the sunshine to live in peace. Then we can talk about
human rights, but at least let us talk without the sound of gunfire,
without the smell of cordite and without the chill anticipation of
death," Mr. Pound stated.
Mark Simmonds, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign
and Commonwealth Affairs, added, in turn: "It goes without saying that
finding a lasting solution will be vital in alleviating the suffering
still felt in the region. I am extremely grateful for the work being
done to raise awareness of that tragic conflict. Of course, it does
not need to be said that we are not much further on than we were 20
years ago, and we are almost at that 20th anniversary."
"The UK is concerned by the ongoing breach of the ceasefire along the
line of contact as well as along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. There
were reports of increasing numbers of ceasefire violations in January
and early February, as he rightly mentioned. We were pleased that
the Presidents of both countries committed to a truce during the
winter Olympics. While fighting continues, there is always a danger
of escalation, whether that is deliberate or not, and we urge both
sides to exercise restraint and avoid provocation," he added.
"We consistently urge Armenia and Azerbaijan to work with the Minsk
group to reduce tensions and create an environment conducive to a
peaceful, long-lasting settlement," he stated.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/02/12/british-mp-for-azerbaijan-the-issue-of-karabakh-is-a-matter-of-ambition-for-armenians-of-karabakh-it-is-a-matter-of-life-or-death/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress