Tehran Times
July 1 2011
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict could be resolved through regional talks: Larijani
Tehran Times Political Desk
TEHRAN – Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani has said that the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict could be resolved only through regional
talks and without the intervention of major powers.
The Majlis speaker made the remarks in an interview with the
Azerbaijani news agency Trend, published on June 30, just ahead of his
official visit to Azerbaijan.
`We have previously stated and now repeat that regional conflicts
should be resolved through negotiations inside the region,’ Larijani
said when asked about the possibility of Iran’s mediation between
Armenia and Azerbaijan to help settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
According to Trend, the conflict between the two South Caucasus
countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against
Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in
1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the
U.S. – are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Following are excerpts of Larijani’s interview with Trend regarding
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, role of Iran and Turkey in resolving
regional conflicts, and Iran’s nuclear program.
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
We have previously stated and now repeat that the regional conflicts
should be resolved through negotiations inside the region.
Experience shows that when the major powers interfere in the process
of achieving solutions for regional conflicts, the process becomes
lengthy. They pursue their own goals in this regard.
The OSCE Minsk Group has been holding talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict settlement for several years. What results have been
achieved? From this point of view, we reasonably believe that the
negotiations to resolve such conflicts can be better held inside the
region because regional countries can better understand each other.
Role of Iran, Turkey in resolving regional conflicts
Turkey is a very important country and Iran exchanges views with this
country in various fields.
A well-known fact is that the economic cooperation between Iran and
Turkey is at a high level… we have friendly and good relations with
this country. We closely and continuously exchange views on many
regional issues.
If the Muslim countries unite… they can prevent the interference of
many countries in the region, which want to create problems there.
We can demonstrate cooperation between Iran, Azerbaijan and Turkey as
the exemplary cooperation in the region. All three countries well
understand and communicate with each other and cooperate in many
spheres.
Iran nuclear program
There are no `knots’ in Iran’s nuclear program, since there is
IAEA-developed special legal system for peaceful nuclear activities.
The countries that have signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
operate under the control of this system. This organization should
support the country that is a member of the IAEA in the field of
peaceful nuclear activities, as well as help if it needs.
I think that the problem in discussions regarding the peaceful nuclear
activities of Iran is that the U.S. and Western countries adopt the
policy of `restrictions’ against Iran.
The U.S. and Western countries want the Muslim country not to have
knowledge in nuclear technology. They want to keep nuclear technology
in their hands. They want the Muslim world to depend on them after the
natural resources are used up. So, they oppress Muslim countries.
Another important factor is that the new technologies create potential
for the development of science in Muslim countries. The Western
countries are concerned not only over the fact that Iran has gained
access to nuclear technology, but also that Iran has succeeded in
other new technologies.
The main problem is that they do not want to reconcile themselves to
the changes which are taking place in the contemporary world