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  • Misinterpretation leads Azerbaijani diplomacy

    The Hill, DC
    Nov 2 2014


    Misinterpretation leads Azerbaijani diplomacy

    By Aram Avetisyan

    The Oct. 24 op-ed by Nasimi Aghayev on The Hill's Congress blog,
    related to Artsakh's (Nagorno Karabakh's) conflict with Azerbaijan, is
    intended to mislead the readers.

    Joint resolution AJR 32 that supports Artsakh Republic's independence,
    self-determination and democracy was passed in an overwhelming
    bipartisan vote both in the California State Assembly (72 vs 1) and
    California Senate (24 vs 0). This clearly shows overwhelming support
    for Artsakh in California, rather than some narrow lobbying effort, in
    spite of the years of efforts and millions spent by Aghayev's
    Consulate in lobbying to sway this legislature's views in his regime's
    favor.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    Aghayev has the right to be upset about the failure of his country's
    "caviar diplomacy" in California, but should still be taken to task
    for his misrepresentations.

    Artsakh used peaceful, democratic means to accomplish its people's
    long-cherished dream of independence from Soviet Azerbaijani abuses.
    The war was Azerbaijan's choice, not Artsakh's, and was a result of
    the failure to grasp the logic of de-colonization by Azerbaijan's
    leaders.

    Our goal today is to prevent future tragedies and find a way forward
    for peaceful resolution of Nagorno Karabakh Republic's conflict with
    Azerbaijan. We regret that this goal is not shared by the Aliyev
    regime. The massive military spending, the daily hate rhetoric against
    ethnic Armenians, the harassment of Azerbaijanis who want peace and
    their treatment as traitors, do not augur well for the future.

    Now on to some of Aghayev's arguments:

    The UN Security Council resolutions were intended to establish peace
    rather than prop up Azerbaijan. They called upon the conflicting sides
    (Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia) to restore a cease-fire and
    lift blockades. Unfortunately, even 20 years later, Azerbaijan has
    failed to implement these core requirements. Azerbaijan has
    disregarded repeated calls by the international community, including
    the U.S. government, to pull back snipers from the Line of Contact and
    begin building mutual trust. Azerbaijan's irresponsible actions result
    in frequent deaths of soldiers and civilians on both sides.

    The Azerbaijani diplomat's attempts to portray the Karabakh conflict
    as a territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan contradicts
    the cease-fire agreement of 1994 signed by Armenia, Azerbaijan and
    Nagorno Karabakh that clearly reflected its trilateral format. It also
    runs counter to the logic of the Karabakh peace process under auspices
    of OSCE Minsk group that applies three equal principals of
    international law- non-use of force or the threat of force,
    territorial integrity, and peoples' right to self-determination - for
    the final settlement of Karabakh conflict. The lack of any progress in
    negotiations derives not from mediators or both Armenian sides, but
    from aggressive and "ostrich" policy of Azerbaijan that refuses to
    restore prior 1998 negotiations format with direct participation of
    the NKR, and continues relying on military settlement of the conflict.

    Aghayev's praise of his country "an example of post-Soviet success" is
    both ridiculous and typical of his regime's rhetoric. A corrupted
    regime benefitting from oil wealth that punishes its citizens for
    Facebook comments, holds about a hundred political prisoners, cracks
    down on human rights activists and NGOs including U.S. and
    international organizations despite critics from global community
    including President Obama is hardly an example anyone would want to
    follow. Recently, Baku's poor human rights records have launched
    discussions about possible sanctions against Azerbaijan.

    Unless the Aliyev regime is clearly held responsible for its
    misbehavior both in its domestic and foreign policy, its
    transgressions are likely to continue opening opportunities for
    greater instability.

    We thank California for recognizing these realities, by joining a
    number of other U.S. states as well as the U.S. Congress, in extending
    support for Artsakh and its democracy.

    Avetisyan is counselor at the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
    (NKR) in the USA.

    Aghayev's opinion can be read at
    http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/221579-special-interest-manipulation-damages-american-foreign

    http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/222489-misinterpretation-leads-azerbaijani-diplomacy



    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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