Azerbaijani activist makes border claims while calling for peaceful
deal over Karabakh

15:56 – 19.10.13

Ramil Hajili, the president of European Movement Azerbaijan, held
Saturday a news conference in Yerevan to address the Nagorno-Karabaakh
issue.

His visit to to Armenia has been organized by European Movement
International’s local council.

Speaking at the meeting, the Azerbaijani activist said that though a
vast majority of his country’s population seek for a peaceful
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, he has his own land
demands.

Hajili said he was born in the Nagorno-Karababkh region of Fizuli
which, in his words, did not have an Armenian population at the time.

`I was 10 years old when the war began, and I found myself in the
status of a refugee. I settled in a town of tents, which lacked normal
conditions,’ he said.

Asked about any plans to visit Nagorno-Karabakh, Rajili and his
assistant unanimously gave a positive answer. To the journalists’
remark that they may appear on the Azerbaijani authorities’ `black
list’, Hajili have a somewhat joking response. `We are already on a
black list as we have visited Armenia. ‘

Hajili then continued to introduce his country’s propaganda on
Karabakh, calling for the `return of the six occupied regions’.

Journalists, however, reminded the activist that Armenia is a winning
side in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and it returned its land at the
cost of blood. A remark was even made that the Azerbaijani man
probably has a problem with memory that he doesn’t remember Armenians
living in Nagorno-Karabakh. `I don’t say Armenians do not live there;
I just haven’t seen them in the region where I lived,’ Hajili
answered.

`It is just important for the sides to reach a common agreement. I
don’t want you to think that I am addressing calls only to Armenia.
Being here, I am just using the occasion for doing that. Azerbaijan
too, has to make concessions.’

Asked what exactly the country is ready for, Hajili first pointed to
the six regions surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh. He said if those lands
are ceded to them, the country will agree to give more to Armenia. But
he didn’t elaborate further.

`I don’t consider the Armenian nation an animal and agree to
[President] Serzh Sargsyan’s remark that `Azerbaijan is not our
enemy’,’ said Hajiev.

The meeting was also attended by President of European Movement
Armenia Victor Yengibaryan and Secretary General of European

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian