CONSUL GENERAL OF AZERBAIJAN IN LOS ANGELES CONFRONTED FOR HIS MISREPRESENTATIONS ON ARMENIA AND ARTSAKH
– AUGUST 1, 2013
By Appo K. Jabarian
Executive Publisher / Managing Editor
USA Armenian Life Magazine
August 1, 2013
During the last few years the Republic of Azerbaijan and its
diplomatic corps around the world have been intensifying their
misleading information campaign on Armenia, Armenians and Artsakh
(Karabakh) as well as other pressing issues such as the mistreatment
of minorities and opposition forces in Azerbaijan. Baku has also been
attempting to counter the political pressure mounted by increasingly
effective Armenian Diaspora.
Dictatorial Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his regime have
also resorted to carrying political propaganda under the cover of
a “cultural” program. During one such event the Consul General of
Azerbaijan in Los Angeles Mr. Nasimi Aghayev addressed an audience at
the Levantine Cultural Center in West Los Angeles, last Thursday. To
his and his facilitators’ dismay the Azerbaijani political objective
failed.
Devoted Armenian American and other American activists succeeded in not
letting the Azerbaijani official get away with his erroneous statements
on Armenia and Artsakh and other important issues. (Watch Video at:
!/photo.php?v=10200991795830136)
When representatives of the main organizers the International Visitors
Council of Los Angeles and Levantine Cultural Center of Los Angeles
interrupted and cut short a pre-announced 15-minute question and
answer session, audience members as well as this writer criticized
them for obstructing freedom of speech and normal dialog.
Upon completion of his Power Point presentation on his country, Mr.
Aghayev welcomed questions from the audience. I raised my hand and
became the first – and sadly the last person to ask a question. The
question was in two parts: “Hon. Consul General, you have talked about
the exclave and the enclave inside Azerbaijan and according to the
map (shown on the giant screen) you could see the exclave as being
– as you called it ‘Nakhichevan’ and the enclave that you called
‘Karabakh’ and Armenians call it ‘Artsakh.’ Armenians too call the
exclave ‘Nakhichevan’ which in Armenian, “Nakh-Itchevan” – I found
out, means “Primary Settlement.” (According to en.wikipedia.org, in
Armenian literally means “the place of descent”, a Biblical reference
to the descent of Noah’s Ark on the adjacent Mount Ararat.)
I added: “And I made some research in Azerbaijani language and I
found out that the word Nakhichevan has no meaning at all. It doesn’t
have roots. So I did further studies and I found that the 1918 free
and independent Republic of Azerbaijan did not include the exclave
of Nakhichevan and the enclave of Artsakh or Karabakh. I also found
out that in 1921 Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin – in order to appease
Azerbaijan, forcibly carved the exclave of Nakhichevan and enclave
of Artsakh out of the Armenian Republic. So how do you reconcile your
misrepresentations on the historic facts?”
In the second part of my question I asked: “Could you also elaborate
on the repressive treatment by the Republic of Azerbaijan of its Lezgi,
Talysh, Iranian, Kurdish and Yezidi minorities?”
Consul General Aghayev said: “So let’s start with your second
question. I am very much impressed that you are very concerned about
the situation of Lezgis, Kurds in Azerbaijan.” Abruptly changing the
topic he asked a totally unrelated question: “But let me ask you,
‘have you been to Armenia?'”
I answered: “Yes I have.” He asked another diversionary question:
“Have you seen anyone except for Armenians in Armenia?” I underlined:
“I have!”
Then directing his remarks to the audience Mr. Aghayev claimed:
“Armenia is one of the rare countries in the world where the 99%
of the population are Armenians.”
I rebutted: “That’s not true. There are sizable Jewish (and other
ethnic, namely Yezidi, Assyrian and Kurdish) population(s) in Armenia.”
At that moment Mr. Aghayev blurted “Oh really! So there is a sizable
Jewish community in Armenia!” and sat down refusing to further continue
the discussion.
At that moment a lady representing co-organizer the International
Visitors Council of Los Angeles jumped in and declared “I know there
is a lot of political concerns that are going on here but that’s not
what we’re here for tonight so that’ll be the end of the discussion.
The Consulate staff members applauded very hard with a sigh of relief.
She was backed by a male representative of the second organizer the
Levantine Cultural Center “advising” to stay clear of politics.
In response, I stressed: “But before inviting them you might want
to give your guests clear guidelines not to present packs of lies
to unsuspecting Los Angelinos.” A great number of audience members
applauded in a strong sign of approval.
Consul General Aghayev stood up again to deny Azerbaijan’s mistreatment
of its minorities. He also denied Soviet dictator Stalin’s forcible
carving of Nakhichevan and Artsakh (out of 1918-1920 Republic of
Armenia.
And then toning down his remarks he sounded reconciliatory saying:
“Again, Armenians and Azerbaijanis have lived peacefully for
centuries. Believe me, we could do it again. We can reestablish this
dialogue. … We should try to find moments that unite us. And you,
Armenians are not going to go away – unless the government there,
through its policies, depopulates Armenia … It can happen which I
don’t wish. … Armenians are not going to leave the region. We’re
not going to leave the region. We’ll stay there. And we have to find
a common language how to solve our problems.”
In an effort to cancel the 15 minute question and answer session
lady organizer said “I think there is going to be no point to these
questions and we have something much more enjoyable to present,”
moving to start the last segment of the program – presentation of
folkloric music and Mediterranean food.
At that moment an Armenian activist Irena Varjabedian interjected
criticizing the abrupt cancellation of the 15-minute question and
answers session. Also participating were Bedros Hajian of Armenian
Media Group of America and Harout Bronozian of Veratarts TV along
with others.
A visitor of Levantine Cultural Center’s webpage featuring the event
may have an impression that this is merely a cultural event. But
further scrutiny would reveal the real political agenda hidden in a
maze of cultural literature and portraits of musicians.
There were barely 40 people present with at least 5 being Azerbaijan
consulate staffers. To the surprise of the organizers, around 15
were pro-Armenian activists who had come prepared to ask questions
touching upon such issues as:
– Azerbaijan’s Dismal human rights record reflecting dictatorial
President Ilham Aliyev and his regime’s repressive behavior against
own citizens;
– State-organized suppression of the identity of various minorities
in Azerbaijan, such as Armenians, Lezgis, Iranians, Udis, Georgians
(Ingiloys); Talyshs, Assyrians, Kurds, and Yezidis;
– Continued occupation of Armenian lands in Nakhichevan, and Northern
Artsakh’s Shahumian region;
– Azerbaijan’s belligerence against the self-determined population
of Armenian Republic of Artsakh (Karabagh);
Even though the question and answer session was cut short, Armenian
Americans have numerous coming opportunities to press ahead with
their questions.
Activists have enough human resources to confront Azerbaijani officials
on their misrepresentations of facts affecting their country and
the Caucasus region; and to mount a rapid response task force to
counter Baku’s ongoing campaign to spread false information on all
fronts – public events; the print and electronic media; legislatures
and academia.
https://www.facebook.com/bedros.hajian?ref=tn_tnmn#
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