Day.Az, Azerbaijan
Feb. 14, 2008

OPENING OF TURKISH-ARMENIAN BORDER CONDUCIVE TO KARABAKH SOLUTION –
AZERI EXPERT

C. Ali’s interview with Azerbaijani political expert Zardust Alizada
on Azerbaijaniwebsite Day.az on 14 February

"Zardust Alizada: The opening of the Turkish-Armenian borders would
only beconducive to the Karabakh settlement"

[Correspondent] Commenting on a speech by Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the recent Munichinternational security
conference, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said that
Yerevan supports Turkey’saccession to the European Union. How candid
do you think the Armenian minister was when making his statement?

[Alizada] I also heard the speech of Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan.
He actually read a lecture to Oskanyan like ateacher to a pupil. It
was very weighted, very deep, well-reasoned speech of the Turkish
prime minister.

The point is that nothing depends on Oskanyan in Europe. The matter
is more serious and connected with the keyEuropean states which do
not want to see Turkey in Europe. They fear to see a mighty rival in
the person of it [Turkey],with other line of behaviour, strong
economy, mighty armed forces, geopolitical resources, special
relations with theUSA and privileged position in the Islamic world.

Consequently, they do not want such an ally there. Well, love cannot
be compelled. On the other hand, democracy isnot a privilege only for
Europe. Turkey proves that Islam has huge potential for
democratization, and sooner or later,economy itself will dictate
Europe whether to accept Turkey into its ranks. The European Union is
not a closed club and I think Turkey has to go through a very heavy
but redeemable struggle in order to change the European public
opinion.Turkey has strong allies and supporters, and I think economy
and economic interests will prevail in Europe in duetime.

[Correspondent] So the established opinion is that the European Union
is a Christian club, where the road to Muslimcountries is booked
wrongly?

[Alizada] For the time being, this is the case. But the matter is
that Christian culture is open to the world. Look, the head of the
English Church suggests that the interests of the Muslim minority be
taken heed of in Britain, or PopeBenedict XVI in fact starts dialogue
with the Muslim world. Christianity is a great humanistic tradition
and it will notbe possible to turn it into a closed political club. I
think that "the European Union is a Christian club" is an
unsuccessful expression just like, for example, "Islamic terrorism".
Terrorism cannot be Islamic becauseIslam and terror are incompatible.

[Correspondent] I would like to go back to the statement of the
Armenian foreign minister at the already mentionedconference. What
would be your comment on Oskanyan’s statement that it is groundless
for Turkey to link theestablishment of Armenian-Turkish relations
with the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict which is
betweenArmenians and Azerbaijanis, but not Turks?

[Alizada] He can speak about what he wants. They have their own
peculiar Armenian logic which links very weakly with the universal
and scientific logic. And history always teaches them very difficult,
bitter lessons for making mistakes. It is impossible to feel
animosity towards your neighbours and settle security issues. If
Armenia wants to ensure thesecurity of its people and the state, it
must learn to respect the interests of its own neighbours, first of
all theinterests of Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Incidentally, this is what it is not doing, and therefore, wants to
put up a bold front: Armenia itself wants to beenemies and, at the
same time, wish for an inappropriate treatment. This is impossible
and it will be treated as ahostile state, which ignores, schemes
plots against and takes great pains to damage Turkey. And naturally,
Turkey willtreat it accordingly. Though I personally consider that
Turkey should open the borders with Armenia and establish
allconditions for it. Because should this take place, Armenia will
turn into a Turkish province. At first, economically,and then
politically.

[Correspondent] Incidentally, official figures were leaked to the
press several years ago that Turkey was very close to the opening of
the borders with Armenia.

[Alizada] I am for it. Should this happen, Turkey would get mighty
leverage over Armenia, the Armenian public opinionand the Armenian
economy. I am for peace culture, not for war. I consider that Turkey
possesses huge resources to exert influence on Armenia. Why this
should be abandoned, I do not understand.

[Correspondent] You want to say that the opening of the
Turkish-Armenian border is in favour of the resolution of theNagornyy
Karabakh conflict and in our interests?

[Alizada] Right, the process of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict
settlement will only benefit from it.