NKR NA Deputy Speaker: Democratic Artsakh cannot survive being part of dictatorial Azerbaijan
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STEPANAKERT, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS: Armenpress interviewed the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Arthur Tovmasyan. The key issues of the talk were the prospects of the Karabakh conflict settlement, threatened negotiations stage and the forthcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan.
- Mr. Tovmasyan, the attention of the international community towards Karabakh has considerably increased. It is proved by the latest events: the establishment of the Artsakh Republic-Lithuanian Republic Parliamentary Friendship Group, the recognition of the recognition of the Artsakh Republic by the US Maine State and Fresno City. These events, as expected, were not accepted normally in Azerbaijan, mildly speaking. What do you think, what is the real reason for the Azerbaijan’s concern and will Azerbaijan be able to change the process of the abovementioned events?
- I think, a wave of anxiety was raised by the Azerbaijani authorities. Recently a big noise was made by the new novel of the Azerbaijani writer Akram Aylisli “Stone Dreams”. There are parts in the book, where the Azerbaijani is depreciated and the Armenian is praised. After that the Azerbaijani people called the writer an Armenian. Akram Aylisli responded that “if I was an Armenian, I will have declared about it”. Thus, I share Azerbaijan into two parts: the nation of the country and the authorities. I am certain that there are many people in Azerbaijan, who think like the writer. The difference is that Aylisli spoke about a thing, thought by a significant section of the common Azerbaijani people.
The Azerbaijani authorities direct oil dollars to purchase of weapons and armored vehicles, enriching the clan and foreign policy, ignoring the social programs. If the Nagorno Karabakh Republic is recognized by some countries or states, the Azerbaijani authorities will direct their oil dollars to conduct foreign policy with them, thus threatening the economic stability of the country. In case of Lithuania, I am certain, they would have suspended their diplomatic relations with the country. But if the Lithuanian example is followed by many countries, Azerbaijan would not be able to treat them the same way.
- What will you say about the possibility of the recognition of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic by Armenia?
- I think, it is not rational to do that in this moment, as the accepting of the NKR recognition by any of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries will mean that that particular country has already nothing to do in the settlement process. So, it is supposed that the current stage of the negotiations process will be settled by Azerbaijan after the recognition of the NKR independence or if we accept the precondition of entering into the composition of Azerbaijan, which I consider to be incredible.
- What do you think, will this year be decisive for the settlement of the NKR conflict?
- I might seem naïve if I say that this year the independence of the NKR will be recognized. But I am certain that a progress will be registered in the settlement process. The authorities of Armenia and Artsakh are of the same opinion – the NKR conflict should be settled in peaceful way, and that does not mean, certainly, that we want any peace. We support a decent peace and not a forced one.
- Let us talk a bit about the forthcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan. Can it somehow affect the negotiations process?
- During the year of the presidential elections we hear rough statements, but this year is comparatively calmer. Ilham Aliyev needs rough statements to keep the power, which are made only for the internal use to persuade the people and seem a powerful president. I am confident that the forthcoming elections will be several steps behind the previous ones.(THE FULL INTERVIEW IS AVAILABLE IN ARMENIAN).
Interviewed by Vahram Poghosyan