“THE WORLD WILL GO UPSIDE DOWN IF KARABAKH BECOMES INDEPENDENT”
Support A1+!Samed Seidov, head of the Azeri delegation to PACE answers the questions of “A1+.”
Are you pleased with the resolution about Azerbaijan adopted yesterday during the PACE session?
Yes, I am as all the deputies making speeches supported Azerbaijan and it is impossible to neglect the prosperity in our country. Surely, there are moments deserving criticism but such problems are apparent in all developing countries as once problems cease life will stop as well. The fact that they supported us unanimously already testifies that our position is strong here.
The PACE President announced that the monitoring in Armenia and Azerbaijan will be stopped only if the Karabakh conflict is settled. When we can anticipate the conflict settlement?
The quicker, the better. The sooner the conflict is settled in favour of the Caucasian peoples the better. But as you see it is not settled. On the one hand the negotiations aren’t held in due way, on the other hand problems emerge constantly, like the recent fires on the borderline.
Do you claim that the Armenian side did it deliberately?
Of course, we shot everything from the space and now Azerbaijan has all the chances.
But why should the Armenian side set fire in the territories occupied by the country?
There are multiple reasons for it. For instance, they did it so that we couldn’t withstand any more. At present there is cease-fire regime which is a great achievement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We gained it without others’ assistance and mediation, didn’t we?
Between Armenia and Azerbaijan or between Armenia, Azerbaijan and NKR?
No, the agreement was between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In my opinion the Armenian side forces Azerbaijan to violate the cease-fire regime and then they shout “look, what they are doing!” The Azeri side cannot see calmly how their lands are burning. Perhaps there are other reasons but this is the most striking one. The international community is well aware that the Azeri territories are occupied.
What territories do you mean by saying occupied territories?
I mean both Karabahk and 7 adjacent regions. But in the first phase the 7 regions must be vacated and then let’s organise a roundtable and speak of the Karabakh status. Kocharian and Aliyev have been discussing this very issue for a long time. This is a stage version and our Armenian partners agree upon it.
What will Armenia gain from the compromise?
When integrating into CoE Azerbaijan was entitled to settle the conflict in peaceful way. This is really a compromise from the Azeri side. The fact that we are negotiating is a great compromise by us.
Then it means that Armenia went on a compromise as well while integrating into the CoE. What will you say to this?
You are right Armenia could say the same thing but let’s take into account which country occupied the other’s territories. We don’t demand any square meters from Armenia but we are occupied and now you say let’s go to compromise. This is very serious. That’s why we haven’t been able to settle the matter for so many years and the international community must once more view the events in this context.
The interviewer was Karine Asatryan
Strasbourg
