Foreign

Baku. Lachin Sultanova – APA. APA’s interview with Chief of the international relations department of the Presidential Administration Novruz Mammadov

-What is your attitude towards Azerbaijani officials’ criticizing the US policy with regard to our country?

-There is sensitive approach to this issue in the present foreign policy course of Azerbaijan. It is obvious what has Azerbaijan done as a partner during its independence. Analyzing this we can say that there is almost no other country in the post-Soviet area that is pursuing successful foreign policy like Azerbaijan. Our policy inside the country, foreign policy, achievements in various spheres, achievements in the region, world, Azerbaijan’s achievements in the international cooperation – no other state can show such an example. Azerbaijan is the only country that has gained so many achievements. Struggle against terrorism, broad energy cooperation, political reforms, struggle against narcotics, special contributions to the peacekeeping operations in Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan within the framework of NATO – in this context we think over some injustice towards the processes in Azerbaijan. We think why it should be so. Moreover, it makes us think over the desire, will to draw the aggressor state Armenia out of the crisis with the steps taken with regard to Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Why should these processes be so? The US, which is committed to protect justice, correctness, international law, demonstrates double approach in the norms and principles formed under its leadership.

We have been independent for 19 years. The steps taken within this period – first of all Amendment 907 adopted in 1992 means sanction for Azerbaijan. All, who are engaged in politics in the US, know that this is a very unjust amendment. Azerbaijan is a country suffering from occupation. But this document does not contain a word about the aggressor state, with such an amendment Azerbaijan has been punished. Assume that it happened when the world was unaware of the processes. Why don’t they repeal it now? Sometimes they even try to ground it. The U.S. Congress has a strange working principle, they say “it does not repeal even the most unjust decision”. What is the logic? Who will accept it? As a result of it, about $2 billion aid has been given to Armenia so far. We regard it as political, moral and economic punishment. America, the West are cooperating with Azerbaijan. What does it mean to support the aggressor state while cooperating with Azerbaijan in energy, struggle against terrorism, narcotics and many other spheres?

The second injustice against Azerbaijan is the Jackson-Vanik amendment. Azerbaijan had no relation to this amendment at all. This is a decision passed against USSR by the U.S. Congress, which objected to the campaign related to the Jews. Some rights of the Jews were restricted in the USSR at that time. After the collapse of the USSR this amendment should have been eliminated, but it is still effective with regard to Azerbaijan. How can such a step taken with respect to Azerbaijan, where the Jews historically felt at home and did not face any problems? Israeli officials, Israeli President also say that the Jews live in Azerbaijan without problems. This amendment has been eliminated with regard to a number of states, but is still effective with regard to Azerbaijan. Is it fair? This makes us think.

There was a program “Millennium challenges”. Why was Azerbaijan left aside of this program, while the countries that did not have close cooperation with the US, among them Armenia were included into the program? These states received $500-600 million aid from the US, Azerbaijan was again not taken into consideration.

Nagorno Karabakh is a historical land of Azerbaijan, it has also been noted in the resolutions of the UN Security Council. The US also voted for the resolutions adopted in 1992 and later. Is any step being taken to implement these resolutions? What happens in reality – $6-8 million aids are given to Nagorno Karabakh separatists every year. Why do they do it? Why no reaction is given to the occupation of seven regions of Azerbaijan alongside with Nagorno Karabakh for 20 years? Why the US has not said a word concerning these seven regions? Sometimes a large campaign is launched in the world concerning the rights of one person, while nothing is said about the rights of 750,000 people displaced from their native lands as a result of the occupation.

Every year the House of Representatives tries to increase government aid to Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Can’t the administration say it is unjust, they are separatists? None of this is done. Seeing this we think over its aim. The representatives of the separatist Nagorno Karabakh often visit the US, hold marathons, collect funds, open and register representation there – how can we assess all this? What is the aim of the respect, love, care, assistance for the state that occupied the territory of another country, the representatives of the separatist Nagorno Karabakh? Shouldn’t we think over it?

Financial crisis has begun since 2008. Within this period US, International Monetary Fond and the World Bank allocated 100 millions of dollars to Armenia. There were also other aids. Where is the love for the aggressive state sourced from?

Finally, the issue on opening borders between Armenia and Turkey…Who objects to this opening? Nobody. Isn’t there a need to want at least a small step from Armenia in exchange for it? Why should Turkey and Azerbaijan be forced to take a step toward Armenia, while it has occupied the territories of another state, shouts about the event that did not take place?

Armenia became devastated after Georgian happenings and financial crisis. And then we saw the West take measures to save Armenia. They gave financial aid, granted loans. But then they realized that it is impossible to do it every year. And what should be done? A step should be taken so that the aggressor state Armenia flourishes. What should be done? The border with Turkey should be opened. Armenia can be saved only in this way.

Armenia – Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh has been continuing for over 20 years. The entire world knows that Armenia is an aggressor state. But the steps taken by these states concerning the resolution of the conflict within 20 years can not be compared with the steps taken for the sake of Armenia’s interests within several months. Without inviting anyone they organized a ceremony reminding a show in Switzerland, foreign ministers of six countries, including the U.S. Secretary of State, gathered there and showed that they supported Armenia, and solve all of its problems. Why should it be so?

When the situation in the occupied Azerbaijani territories was discussed at the UN General Assembly on March 14, 2008, they carried out a large campaign calling to vote against it. Why should it be done? For the sake of the love for Armenia? How can one assess such a policy of the US, its attitude towards the processes? There are so many biased points in the report on narcotics…They wrote that 95 000 out of 120 000 students are drug addicts and spread it all over the world. And recently there has been another mistake in the statement of the representative of the Department of State. After the resolute objection they corrected it. When the statement is released millions of people get acquainted with it, while no one knows about a small correction made afterwards.

We are the partner of the US, Europe, all vectors of the world. And its results are obvious. No country in the post-Soviet area has taken such successful steps as Azerbaijan. It is impossible not to see it. This is the splendid embodiment of the unity of president and people. This unity, stability of this political course is very important in Azerbaijan. Sometimes we think maybe the development, stability and might of the country are not in accordance with the interests of some. Azerbaijan is a little country. But we know that we have dignity, honor and value. We want to cooperate, establish relations with all countries in line with the norms and principles of the international law formed by them. These relations should be based on the mutual respect, understanding and assessment. Last month I read an article by former US president Reagan’s advisor. He writes that a strange style of thinking is being formed in the US. The ruling circles of the US consider that all their views should be accepted as truth by the entire world. Why didn’t we express a different opinion towards the processes in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Iraq and other parts of the world? Actually, we know very well what is happening there. We do not interfere in others’ affairs.

- We want only to see fair position in return of what we are doing hundred percent. The president, who is pursuing foreign policy course of Azerbaijan, passed through the rich school of statehood and politics. This policy is successfully leading Azerbaijan forward. This successful movement is within the interests of the world community. It needs to give fair assessment to this. What’s the matter with the independent foreign policy course and establishing mutually useful relations by the head of state of Azerbaijan? Can it be true that someone is interested in instability non-development and problems of some countries? This is not correct if it is in favor of someone. Today there are great injustices in the international relations. The force shouldn’t replace the international law. This process is harmful for the powerful countries as well. The small countries can continue their way somehow, but the great countries will suffer from the results of this process. The history knows many examples of that.


- What alternative steps can Azerbaijan make against the policy of the United States? Can it have any impact on the transnational projects?

Azerbaijan pursues independent foreign policy. Our country has made its fundamental choice since early independence and follows this course. We want to have fair, mutually useful cooperation with all vectors of the world and to establish relations based on mutual respect. We reached such level that they are telling Turkey that it has to open borders with Armenia and not to link the issue with the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Everyone knows reasons of the closing the Turkish-Armenian borders, but despite that they want direct opening the borders without elimination of those reasons and make pressure for that. There is great pressure on Turkey. I must point out two issues. They show injustice against Turkey in the Iraqi issue as well. But Turkey was partner number one to the West within NATO for more than 50 years. After the collapse of bipolar world system, they send strong message to Turkey that they don’t need in Turkey further. This is not correct. Same attitude was shown in the EU membership issue as well. It can not reconcile with such situation. It was so with the issue related to the so-called “Armenian genocide”…Turkish leader proposes to let the scientists and historians to research the history of that time, let the joint commission to asses the situation, and after that to make decision. But no one hears this proposal because there are long-term plans. I have information about the plan of Armenians. They are planning to achieve recognition of so-called “Armenian genocide” by the world and Turkey at all costs. Then they will start campaign to receive compensation from Turkey and to legalize their territorial claims against Turkey and to tear away territory from Turkey. The general plan is that. It is impossible not to see that, and unfortunately there are inspiriting forces of that insidious plan today.

- How are the negotiations over Nagorno Karabakh conflict going on?

We are waiting for the Armenia’s response to the last processes. After the meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Sochi, Armenia promised to express its position, but it has not done that yet. The foreign countries must pressure on Armenia for the justice and international law. But in contrary, instead of this we see sometimes that they support Armenia and stand behind it in certain places in the different forms.

- Does the changing of Russian co-chair delay the negotiation process?

- This is Armenia delaying the process. If there is pressure on Armenia that it is an aggressor country and it occupied Azerbaijani territories, Armenia will not do that. They give green light to Armenia and this country uses the opportunity they created for it. In this case, they find different pretexts to delay the process of negotiations. For that reasons, the co-chair needs in 3-4 months at least to learn the situation. The President of Azerbaijan stated for many times that we are conducting negotiations for long years and the negotiations led us to the Madrid proposals – basic principles of the settlement and we expressed our position with that. The Madrid principles were proposed by the co-chair countries and they must demand Armenia to accept their proposals.

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