EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF RUSSIAN NEWSPAPER: ARMENIA WILL BEGIN TO LEAVE AZERBAIJANI LANDS
H. Hamidov

Today
1740.html
Feb 16 2010
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with editor-in-chief of Russia-based "Konservator"
newspaper Rustam Arifjanov.

What is your assessment of the present state of the Armenia-Turkey
relations?

The Armenian-Turkish relations are developing, not because it is
necessary for Turks or Armenians, but because it is necessary for
the United States and Europe. Besides, Erdogan, Gul and Sargsyan are
well aware that the relations can be improved not in a day. However,
they are required to depict the process, because neither Turkey nor
Armenia are a driving force in world affairs. So, they are obliged
to portray an initiative to establish relations. In fact, I am sure
that nothing is happening.

In your opinion, nothing is happening because they sides fail to
reach agreement, or because initially there is only appearance of
the initiative and not more?

In fact, both Armenian and Turkish leaders are willing to open the
border. They are ready for this. But peoples of these countries are
not ready. Moreover, the word Armenian people means not only citizens
of Armenia, but also representatives of the Armenian diaspora. I want
the Azerbaijani and Armenian peoples to establish a friendship and
mutual understanding, but most of the Azerbaijani population of is
not ready to do this.

The Azerbaijan people are not ready because of the occupation of
their lands…

It is difficult to change relations that were shaped many years ago
so quickly. Are you ready in case 100,000 Armenians citizens will be
full citizens of your country? Are you ready to see them in leading
positions in the Nagorno-Karabakh and constant influence on them by
a neighboring state?

It seems that many Azerbaijanis will be ready for this only after the
occupied lands are liberated and on the condition that the Armenians
will live in Azerbaijan as country’s citizens, but will not be entitled
to claim the top posts. Because the history knows such examples of
establishing relations between the two nations after serious conflicts.

In this case, Azerbaijan needs to convince the international
community that Azerbaijanis are ready to provide the Armenians all
with appropriate rights. And then the international community might
press on Armenia promoting resolution of the conflict.

Do you believe the Armenia-Turkey border will reopen any time soon?

I believe that the border will reopen, but do not believe that it will
take place soon. But even if the border reopens, it will mean nothing
serious. Guards and customs will stand along both sides of the border.

So, there will be no unhindered passage of goods, raw materials and
others from one country to another.

Turkey says it will open border once Armenia takes substantial steps
to resolve the Karabakh conflict…

We must be prepared that no matter how Russia and, especially, Turkey
are friendly to us, these are states with their own interests. Once
opening of the border with Armenia fully meets Turkey’s interests, it
will certainly make such a move regardless of Azerbaijan’s interests.

We should not think that someone else can willdefend our interests,
we should do it ourselves.

Do you expect advances in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict soon?

Armenia will not go anywhere this year or early next year it will
begin withdraw from the occupied areas of the lowland Karabakh. Later
the most difficult part of the process will begin. We should explain
to the people that despite we have suffered much during the war, we
have to live with the Armenian side by side and convince the world
that we guarantee the rights of Armenians living in Azerbaijan.

Do you think that the international community will believe us and put
pressure Armenia so that it would leave Azerbaijan’s occupied lands?

They will have no argument not to do so. For example, the Serbian
government did not give such guarantees to Albanians and as a result
Kosovo was torn away. The Georgians did not provide such assurances,
and the same thing happened with South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Azerbaijan has reiterated many times that it is ready to grant highest
possible autonomy to Karabakh. As this is ancient Azerbaijani land,
bargaining simply is not relevant in this case…

The international community will ask Azerbaijan to explain the concept
of "the highest autonomy" and Azerbaijan would have to be flexible
in this issue. Otherwise, the Armenians will torpedo the resolution
of the conflict peacefully.

Otherwise, is a war an alternative way out?

Despite today Azerbaijan is much stronger than Armenia, I do not want
hostilities and do not believe that it is possible. Azerbaijan must
not forget that after starting a war, other CSTO member states may
be required simply to stand on the side of its ally – Armenia. I am
convinced that the conflict should have no military solution…