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Political analyst: â€œAzerbaijan may put forward an initiative to examine the fulfillment of UN Security Councilâ€™s four resolutions on Nagorno Karabakh conflictâ€ â€“ INTERVIEW

01 November 2011 11:25 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Habil Suleymanzadeh â€“ APA. APAâ€™s interview with political analyst Farhad Mehdiyev

- Beginning from 2012, Azerbaijan will be directly involved in adoption of important decisions at the UN Security Council in two years. Azerbaijan is a country, which tries to strengthen its position at the international arena. What do you think will membership at the UN Security Council be effective for Azerbaijan?

- It will depend on the skills of our diplomacy. I think they will do it. The question is that the mission at the Security Council has a number of difficult tasks, including the solution of peace and security problems in the world. Azerbaijan is neighboring with Russia in north and with Iran in south. Of course, we have to take different regional and global interests into consideration. For example, the problem of Syria can be raised at the Security Council. There are forces pressing for it, first of all, the West. But there are countries, which donâ€™t desire it, for example Russia, Iran and othersâ€¦.

- By the way, during the elections to the UN Security Council, a Western diplomat told foreign newspapers that they fear that the new members like Azerbaijan will not support the West in the questions of Iran and Syria. What do you think is it possible to derive benefit from such situation?

- Yes, it is possible. The question is that you become a player there. The UN Security Council adopts decisions with majority of 9 votes of 15. But five permanent members have the right of veto. If, for example, Russia uses the right of veto in the issue of sanctions against Iran, the vote of Azerbaijan will not be significant. If Russia doesnâ€™t use the right of veto, in that case, Azerbaijanâ€™s position will be decisive. The important side of this issue for us is that some countries will try to establish good relations with Azerbaijan due to its representation at the UN Security Council.

- As Azerbaijan was elected to the UN Security Council, many in Baku began to view this issue from the prism of its possible impact on the solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict because this issue is the most important nationwide issue for Azerbaijan. Could the UN play any role in moving the Nagorno Karabakh issue from deadlock?

- First of all I would like to note that during the 24 months of Azerbaijanâ€™s representation at the Security Council, the chairmanship will be handed over to us for two times. Every chairmanship will continue for one month. But the chairing country doesnâ€™t determine the agenda independently. It puts proposals and recommendations to vote in order to include them in agenda, which is composed after the voting. If Azerbaijan puts forward an initiative that â€œArmenia is an invader and lets recognize itâ€, veto will be put by such countries like Russia and France. Thus it will be impossible to include this issue in agenda. These countries will not support including of Karabakh issue in agenda and will say that it is under the mandate of the OSCE Minsk Group. But what can Azerbaijan do? Azerbaijan can include the examination of fulfillment of UN Security Councilâ€™s four resolutions on Karabakh in agenda. Thus it is possible to put forward an initiative to examine the fulfillment of these four resolutions. But be confident, they will not recognize Armenia as an invader country. Just remember Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act which is still in force. It must be considered that Armenia is a second country after Israel for per capita US financial aid. It reflects Americaâ€™s position. But anyway, Azerbaijan can raise a question on the reason of non-fulfillment of 4 resolutions. The Armenians hope that this issue will be dropped from the international agenda and consequently the occupation will be legalized. Azerbaijan can prevent it in the tribune of the Security Council.

- Are there countries which can be a partner and ally of Azerbaijan during the discussion of issues related to Azerbaijan in the Security Council?

- United Kingdom is one of the prestigious members of the Council. Britain has wide relations with Azerbaijan and the British companies invest many capitals to Azerbaijan. The United Kingdom has deep interests in Azerbaijan and Caspian Sea region. Besides, Pakistan is also a member of the Security Council and this country has allied relations with our country. A potential partner and ally issues will depend on the ability of our diplomacy. Azerbaijanâ€™s image, geographical positions, resources, successes in various spheres extends our countryâ€™s â€œbackgroundâ€ list and has direct impact on its political position in the world.