HIKMET CETIN: “STABILITY IN THE REGION IS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT PEACE AGREEMENT BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA” – INTERVIEW
APA
Nov 17 2011
Azerbaijan
“I didn’t believe in any cooperation between Turkey and Armenia when
they signed the protocols”
Baku. Ramil Mammadli – APA. APA’s interview with former Turkish
foreign minister and speaker of the parliament, NATO chief civilian
officer in Afghanistan in 2004-2006, Hikmet Cetin
– How do you value the integration of the Turks into the world?
– The period of my office at the foreign ministry coincided with the
tense time for the region. The countries, which we knew from distance
nominally, gained their independence and Turkey was the first country
recognizing them. The relations with the independent Turkic-speaking
countries are developing day by day. We want these countries to
integrate into the civil world. If we look back, we can see that in
the past 20 years, most of these countries, including Azerbaijan,
could save their independence, develop and became weighty countries in
the international countries. The cooperation is developing, but the
issue of political union of the Turkic-speaking countries is not on
agenda. We need to develop the issues dictated by the common history,
culture and religion and we work toward this.
– The negotiations over the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict
are going on. How do you see the position of Turkey in the settlement
of this conflict?
– I was in Azerbaijan when Turkey and Armenia signed the protocols.
Azerbaijan was right to concern about it. I would like to repeat
what I said in that time. Turkey can not make any decision, which
troubles Azerbaijan or puts it in a difficult position. Even if these
protocols were correct in terms of statehood, I didn’t believe in any
cooperation between Turkey and Armenia, when large part of Azerbaijani
territory was occupied and more than one million Azerbaijanis turned
into refugees and displaced persons. Of course, the region needs in
peace and stability. Azerbaijan is an important country in the region
and advocates for peace. For that Nagorno Karabakh and seven nearby
regions must be liberated from the occupation. In brief, stability in
the region is impossible without peace agreement between Armenia and
Azerbaijan. I believe that Turkey supports and will always support
Azerbaijan in this issue.
– What is the main factor which prevents the settlement of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict?
– According to the decisions of the UN, OSCE and the other
international organizations, Karabakh is the Azerbaijani land. Of
course, it will be needed to determine the status issue for the
conflict settlement. But it needs a time. It is also necessary for
Armenia to accept it. Nagorno Karabakh can’t be independent, it is
impossible for it to unite with Armenia, as well as have a region
status. This territory must have a special status within Azerbaijan.
The first step that will be taken is the return of 5 regions to
Azerbaijan and resettlement of Azerbaijanis to those regions. It will
be a step of positive intention for the settlement of that conflict.
In my opinion, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, USA, France, Armenia and
Russia must focus attention on this issue.
– What the recent activation of PKK terrorist organization is related
with? Is it related with the developments in the region – mainly
tension between Turkey and its neighbors?
– PKK is not a new issue. Terror is an old problem. No country
can accept the terrorist attack against it from the territory of
neighboring country. It is necessary to destroy terrorist camps in
the Northern Iraq. The cooperation of Turkey with USA and Iraq on
this issue will be further increased. It is necessary to solve this
problem. Northern Iraq must pull through being terrorist nest.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress