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BAKU: MP Akram Abdullayev: "Key to solving NK is in Russia's hands"

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  • BAKU: MP Akram Abdullayev: "Key to solving NK is in Russia's hands"

    Today, Azerbaijan
    May 29 2006

    MP Akram Abdullayev: "Key to solving Nagorno Karabakh is in Russia's
    hands"

    29 May 2006 [20:14] - Today.Az

    Azerbaijani parliamentarian Akram Abdullayev said that the Nagorno
    Karabakh problem is a legacy of the Soviet Union to Azerbaijan and
    Armenia and therefore the key to a solution rests in Russia's hands.


    Speaking to The New Anatolian in an exclusive interview, Abdullayev,
    who describes himself as a close friend to Turkey, also dismissed the
    efforts of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia towards finding a solution
    to the disputed enclave of Nagorno Karabakh, saying that the issue is
    more complicated than was predicted. He urged the big powers to work
    in cooperation with Russia in order to find a solution.

    Warning against the dangers of a failure to find a diplomatic
    solution to the disputed enclave, Abdullayev said that the
    Azerbaijani people might think of military options since it is
    unacceptable for them to give these lands to Armenia. Citing the
    growing Azerbaijani economy and military, and predicting that the
    Azerbaijani military budget will equal Armenia's in the years to
    come, Abdullayev stated that time is on Azerbaijan's side.

    Abdullayev, a member of the Turkish-Azerbaijani Interparliamentary
    Friendship Group, expressed his hope for further development and
    strengthening of relations between the two countries in various
    areas, calling on Turkey and other Turkic nations to bring the
    genocide committed against the Turks to the agenda of European
    parliaments in retaliation for Armenian genocide claims.

    Touching on the Iranian nuclear standoff, the Azerbaijani
    parliamentarian said his country favors a diplomatic solution to the
    crisis, warning of the dangers of military action against Iran for
    the region. Abdullayev also hinted at Azerbaijan's readiness to act
    like a bridge between the U.S. and Iran to bring the nuclear standoff
    to an end, citing his country's good relations with the U.S. and
    historic ties with neighboring Iran.

    Amid the current row between the Iranian Azeris and Tehran over an
    Iranian newspaper's publication of humiliating cartoons of Iranian
    Azeris, Abdullayev stated that although the Iranian Azeris play an
    important role in their country's politics, they would not push for a
    regime change in the country, despite the assertions of some U.S.
    circles. Warning against any kind of foreign intervention in the
    domestic affairs of a country, Abdullayev said, "The Iranian people
    choose their presidents and their regime. Foreign intervention would
    create dangerous results and many problems."

    Here's what Akram Abdullayev had to tell us:

    TNA: How do you see the level of relations between Turkey and
    Azerbaijan, and what could be done to further develop relations?

    Abdullayev: I see no problem in bilateral relations. During the
    latest visit of Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer to Azerbaijan,
    the two sides had consultations on how to further develop relations,
    and this visit was also the confirmation of strategic friendship and
    cooperation between the two countries. Whenever Azerbaijan faces a
    problem during Council of Europe (CoE) meetings, Turkey is the sole
    supporter of Azerbaijan. The mutual support during the Council of
    Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) meetings is another indicator of
    our warm relations and friendship. I hope our relations will be
    further developed in various areas.

    TNA: What's your idea about the Nagorno Karabakh problem? Are you
    hopeful about a solution?

    Abdullayev: Certainly, all the problems have solutions. Talks to find
    a peaceful solution to the dispute will continue. President Ilham
    Aliyev also discussed this issue during his meeting with U.S.
    President George W. Bush in Washington. But should no peaceful
    solution be found to the disputed enclave, the Azerbaijani people are
    in favor of regaining these lands through military means. We won't
    give up these lands. We won't present them to Armenia. If a solution
    isn't found through peace, the last resort for us is war.

    TNA: What are your expectations from Turkey in this dispute?

    Abdullayev: In this problem, Turkey is Azerbaijan's political
    partner. Turkey has an important role in the process of finding a
    solution to the Nagorno Karabakh dispute but at the same time Turkey
    has its own problems with Armenia. Armenians brought the Armenian
    genocide claims to the agenda of the world in order to create a
    headache for Turkey. Turkey has to work for the benefits of
    Azerbaijan.

    TNA: Could the process of normalization of relations between Turkey
    and Armenia contribute to efforts to find a peaceful solution to the
    Nagorno Karabakh dispute?

    Abdullayev: This problem can't be solved even if Turkey establishes
    diplomatic relations with Azerbaijan or within the process of
    normalization of relations because the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute isn't
    the problem of the region. The efforts of Turkey, Azerbaijan and
    Armenia aren't enough to solve the problem. We need the efforts of
    big powers and organizations. The key to a solution is especially in
    the hands of Russia. The Russian Army is in Armenia and if Azerbaijan
    tries to find a solution through military means, it will face the
    Russian Army.

    It seems to me that finding a solution to the divided enclave is very
    difficult. But time is on Azerbaijan's side. This year Armenia's
    total budget is $1 billion, and the Azerbaijani military's share of
    the total budget is $600 billion. According to Aliyev's estimates,
    the Azerbaijani military's share of the budget will be higher that
    Armenia's budget in the years to come. Azerbaijan is building up its
    military but Armenia is unable to do that. Azerbaijan's total budget
    is more than $4 billion this year and it will be more than $6 billion
    next year. As our country will develop economically, we will take our
    deserved place among the world states and will have a big position.

    TNA: Why aren't Russia and other big powers working for a solution?
    Do they have any interests in the continuation of the dispute in
    Nagorno Karabakh?

    Abdullayev: There are visible and invisible sides of politics. The
    Nagorno Karabakh dispute didn't start yesterday, it stems from the
    1988 events while Gorbachev was president. Fifteen republics split
    off from the Soviet Union. At that time the Soviet Union created
    problems for each split-off republic in order to stop their
    development. For instance, it created the Abkhazia problem for
    Georgia, the Crimean problem for Ukraine and the Nagorno Karabakh
    problem for Azerbaijan and Armenia. At that time nobody wanted the
    dissolution of the Soviet Union but this process was inevitable in
    general. The Nagorno Karabakh dispute is the legacy of the Soviet
    Union to Azerbaijan. For these reasons, a solution could only be
    found as a result of negotiations between Russia and other big
    powers.

    TNA: What is Azerbaijan's position towards the Armenian genocide
    claims and the French bill introducing prison terms for people who
    question these claims?

    Abdullayev: While bringing the genocide claims to the agenda of
    European parliaments, Armenia aimed at creating an obstacle for
    Turkey's membership bid in the European Union. Those who brought the
    issue to the French Parliament are the European parliamentarians well
    paid by the Armenian lobby. Today, neither the Turkish genocide nor
    the Armenian genocide is important for France.

    Turks are a nation which faced a brutal genocide. But they didn't
    make their voices heard in the world. I think both Turkey and other
    Turkic nations should bring the genocide committed against the Turks
    to the world's agenda and should work for the recognition of the
    genocide by the international community.

    TNA: What's the position of Azerbaijan towards the nuclear standoff
    between Iran and the West?

    Abdullayev: Azerbaijan supports finding a diplomatic solution to the
    nuclear crisis and it opposes military action against Iran.
    Azerbaijan is a historic neighbor of Iran and the two countries have
    good relations. There are some 20 million Iranian Azeris living in
    Iran. Therefore, Azerbaijan can't accept military action against Iran
    and can't stand to shed the blood of our brothers.

    TNA: Can Azerbaijan play a mediator role between Iran and the U.S. in
    the nuclear crisis, given the role of the Iranian Azeris?

    Abdullayev: It might be or might not be. Since 2001 Azerbaijan has
    become a member of the anti-terror coalition. It has good relations
    both with the U.S. and Iran. Besides, it has cultural ties with Iran.
    Iranian Azeris play a role in Iranian politics. For those reasons,
    Azerbaijan can be a bridge between the U.S. and Iran. The U.S. hasn't
    suggested that Azerbaijan play such a role yet, but the Azerbaijani
    Parliament might consider debating this issue.

    TNA: Can the Iranian Azeris be a catalyst for regime change in Iran,
    as asserted by some U.S. circles?

    Abdullayev: I don't accept the interference of any country in the
    domestic affairs of another. If the Iranian citizens want to change
    the regime, they will vote in accordance with this aim. The Iranian
    president and regime are determined by the votes of its citizens.
    Therefore, this issue should be left to the citizens. Even if the
    U.S. wants to change the regime, it would be very difficult, and
    intervention in Iranian politics would create dangerous consequences.

    /www.thenewanatolian.com/


    URL: http://www.today.az/news/politics/26660.html
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