AZERI MINISTER BLAMES ARMENIA FOR LACK OF BREAKTHROUGH IN KARABAKH TALKS
Day.Az
Dec 7 2007
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has expressed regret
that no breakthrough was made in Karabakh talks in the outgoing year
despite obvious progress. In an interview with Azerbaijani Day.az
website, the foreign minister blamed Armenia for the failure to
achieve breakthrough in the long-running dispute. Mammadyarov also
praised Spain’s role as the outgoing chairman-in-office of the OSCE in
mediating peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Asked about the
state of the Azerbaijani media, he reiterated the official position
that everything was fine and none of the imprisoned journalists were
in jail for their professional activities. The following is the text of
interview in Day.az headlined "Elmar Mammadyarov: `Because of Armenia’s
position, no breakthrough was made in the Karabakh settlement in 2007,
although the presence of progress cannot be denied’"; subheadings
have been inserted editorially:
7 December: A Day.az interview with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov.
No breakthrough in Karabakh in 2007 despite obvious progress
[Correspondent] Mr minister, at the 15th session of the OSCE
Ministerial Council in Madrid on 29-30, Spain completed the rotating
chairmanship of this organization. What is your assessment of Spain’s
chairmanship of the OSCE in 2007 in terms of the resolution of the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict?
[Mammadyarov] Like Azerbaijan, Spain understands well the threat of
separatism. It has made attempts to contribute to the settlement of
conflicts, including the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
This issue was discussed in-depth during the Spanish foreign minister’s
visit to Azerbaijan in his capacity as the chairman-in-office, and
on this occasion, no doubt attempts were made by this country to
intensify the settlement process. Spain kept in focus all the time
the situation in the negotiations process and attempted to push the
sides to a peaceful settlement of the problem.
[Correspondent] And to all appearances, Spain has also failed.
[Mammadyarov] Regrettably, not everything here depends only on the
chairman-in-office. Because of Armenia’s position, no breakthrough
was made in 2007, although the presence of progress cannot be denied;
progress is taking place gradually.
[Correspondent] What is your expectation of the Finnish chairmanship
in 2008, all the more taking into account that presidential elections
will be held in Azerbaijan and Armenia during that period?
[Mammadyarov] In principle, Finland is one of a few European countries
which have been closely dealing with the settlement [of the Karabakh
problem] over the past 10-15 years. Finland was even a chairman of the
Minsk Group and this country understands the formula of the settlement
of the conflict. On the other hand, certainly elections have always
had an effect on the settlement process by adding big sensitivity to
the atmosphere of the negotiations process.
No need for concern about the media
[Correspondent] With your permission, I would like now to switch to
the topic of the media in Azerbaijan which has recently been in focus
of international attention. Over the recent years, there occurred
several arrests and convictions of journalists, including editors of
opposition newspapers Eynulla Fatullayev [of Gundalik Azarbaycan and
Realnyy Azerbaydzhan] and Qanimat Zahid [of Azadliq]. As far as we
know, the OSCE representative for the press and freedom of speech,
Miklos Haraszti, expressed his concern in this regard in a letter to
you with whom you subsequently met within the framework of the Madrid
session. How serious is this topic placed in relations with Azerbaijan?
[Mammadyarov] Believe me, I sincerely do not think that the level of
freedom of the press in Azerbaijan is lower than, say, that in our
neighbours. Anyway, neither a TV channel nor a single newspaper is
closed down in our country, all editions are circulated freely. This
is a key indicator of the situation. We do not ban media outlets,
they write freely what they want, and I know this in my own
experience. However, on the other hand, there stands the issue
of professionalism. As for the cases you bear in mind, I want to
underline that practically none of those people have been arrested
for their professional activities.
[Correspondent] What is your assessment of your own lawsuit against
Eynulla Fatullayev?
[Mammadyarov] I think my press secretary has already commented on
this. I do not consider Fatullayev a professional journalist.
Railway project important
[Correspondent] In the end, I shall ask about the issue of regional
cooperation. Practical steps have recently been taken to implement
the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project. A lot has been said that both
this project and other energy projects with involvement of the three
[Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey] countries of the region have not only
been economic but also of political significance. What, in your view,
is more in this project economy or politics?
[Mammadyarov] If we look at this issue in a wider prospect, then all
the projects being implemented by us must first of all strengthen
Azerbaijan’s sovereignty. Accordingly, such a project like the
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars is of strategic importance because if we look at
this issue in a long-term prospect, oil and gas are substance which
will sooner or later end and such an infrastructure like the railway
only develops and unites.
We can be certain of this if we look back. In particular, this was
the case in the USA when the railway connected two parts of the huge
country, the west of the country with the east and stimulated economic
development. So such projects are very interesting and important
uniting element and are of strategic nature.