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NOWADAYS OCCUPATION OF A COUNTRY'S LANDS BY ANOTHER ONE CANNOT LAST LONG
news.az
Aug 13 2010
Azerbaijan
Abdullah Gul APA interviews Abdullah Gul, Turkish President who will
visit Azerbaijan on August 16.
Turkish-Azerbaijani relations are based on the brotherhood. Your
Excellency attaches great attention to Azerbaijan and keeps friendly
relations with the President of Azerbaijan. What would you like to
say about the Turkish-Azerbaijani relations on the eve of your visit?
As a president, I made my first foreign visit to Azerbaijan. Only this
fact is a good sign of my attention to Azerbaijan and love for our
Azerbaijani brothers. We are regularly meeting with President Ilham
Aliyev. We discuss the relations between our countries and exchange
views on the regional situation. There is an undeniable truth that
we are the parts of one nation. This nation exists like different
countries, but all of people of those countries are our brothers and
compatriots. We want to see our brothers in richness and welfare. I
attach great attention to the Turkic countries within this framework.
Thank to them that they also attach same attention to us. Their
sorrow is our sorrow and their happiness is our happiness. It
was so throughout the history. What did the Caucasian Islamic
Army under the Nuri Pasha's command? The Azerbaijani people know
all of these. Thanks to Allah, the world was changed today and we
have independent countries in this world today. We have to develop
our friendship and brotherhood, to assist each other to solve the
problems and to be proud of our achievements. I visited Nakhchivan last
year. We established the Turkic Council in Nakhchivan together with
the leaders of other Turkic countries. His Excellency Aliyev hosted
us there. We had a multilateral meeting there. We seek an opportunity
to visit Baku because we shouldn't visit each other once a year or
several years. We have to create opportunities to meet for several
times a year. We will meet at the UN General Assembly in September
and we would like to exchange view on the regional issues before
visiting New York. Peace and stability in the Caucasus is the most
important problem of the region. We considered it necessary to visit
Baku to strengthen our bilateral relations and to exchange views on
the solution of regional problems as well.
You shook stones in the region making important breakthrough in
September, 2008. The main thesis is that existing status-quo will
complicate the solution of Nagorno Karabakh problem. What a phase
are your initiatives now? Will you make another breakthrough after
the consultations in Baku?
In fact, all of these events can happen. I am speaking very openly:
I have worked hard over this problem since my presidency because I
believe that this status-quo in the Caucasus is not in favor of anyone
- Azerbaijan, Turkey or Armenia. The world is changing and we need
to solve the problems. If we freeze the problems, they can arise again.
What is duty of the authorities? They have to solve the problems.
There are UN resolutions. The Minsk Group is doing serious efforts, but
unfortunately it couldn't achieve concrete results during 18 years. If
18-20 years pass since the occupation, it is not a good case. Turkey
was the first to recognize the independence of Azerbaijan. Then we
recognize Armenia. The territorial integrity of every country should
be respected in the contemporary world system.
Armenia can establish good relations with its neighbors and reach
access to sea and join the communication systems. Turkey is a great
country. While reaching "zero problem" in the relations with our
neighbors, it is not good to have problems with Armenia. Therefore fair
solution of the regional problems is in favor of all of us. We would
like that the Minsk Group approaches the solution of the problem,
but now the Minsk Group's visits to the regions are characterized
among the people as the "tourist travels". Therefore we need in new
breakthroughs. I put forward this initiative in 2008.
First I visited Yerevan and then Sargsyan visited Turkey. We informed
President Ilham Aliyev about the details of these processes. Putin and
Medvedev also participated in these processes. Russia is an important
country in the solution of this problem. Therefore we had detailed
consultations around these issues. Such heavy problems can not be
solved under the pressure of one country. These problems can be solved
by the serious efforts of the interested and regional countries. I
took it into consideration and made this breakthrough and as you noted
the stones were shaken. It was an important issue, but we couldn't
reach long distance. There were wrong understandings in Azerbaijan,
in Armenia and in Turkey as well. If the difficult issues are solved
easily they will not have a chronic character. I address all leaders:
we will not stay put and we will work unceasingly for the solution
of the problem. The solution and peace are not easy. We have to work
insistently. I will discuss these issues with my brother President
Ilham Aliyev during my visit. I believe it will be a useful visit
from this point of view.
You mention the Russia's role in establishing the peace in the region.
You had a dialogue with President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin.
There have been reports about the development o military relations
between Russia and Armenia recently. On the other hand, there is a
question of sale of Russian missiles to Azerbaijan. What would you
like to say about that?
I don't think that these processes will prevent the solution of the
problem. I know that Medvedev, Putin, Aliyev and Sargsyan don't believe
that the status-quo will not continue so. They also want the issue
to be solved. During the "cold war", the conflicts were in favor of
some countries. But now there is different situation. Everyone makes
serious efforts for the solution of the problem. Everyone should work
hard to find the optimal point because the problem gets very chronic
character. I am hopeful for stability in the Caucasus. Why not? These
issues can be solved through diplomacy and the discussions.
Nowadays occupation of a country's lands by another one cannot
last long. If the problems are not solved there can be uncontrolled
problems. Therefore we need to work insistently to solve the issue. We
need in a "silent diplomacy". Last year shaking the stones kicked up a
raw. The misunderstanding of the issue created problems in Azerbaijan,
in Armenia and in Turkey.
Now we have reached the period of silent, but resolute diplomacy. I
hope for excellent processes.
On July 30, 2007, you passed a decision to abolish visa regime for
the citizens of Azerbaijan traveling to Turkey. But the visa problem
between the two brotherly countries has not been solved. Will you
decisively bring the solution of the visa issue to the agenda?
We could not accept the visa travel with the brotherly countries
while we abolished visas with other countries. Therefore, when I
was Foreign Minister I abolished the visa travel for our brothers
from Turkic-speaking countries. We wish it to be mutual. Our
foreign ministers are holding discussions about it. We also respect
Azerbaijan's assessments in this field. But if this issue is solved,
we will be pleased.
Turkey's power is backed by free market economy and multi-party
democracy. Free Turkish media has a great role in the democratization.
What would you like to recommend to Azerbaijan viewing from Turkey's
democratic experience?
Turkey is the founding member of the Council of Europe. To be the
member of the Council is to accept its principles and realize them
in your country. The Council of Europe has been established basing
on the principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. But
the member states can not always fulfill these standards on the equal
level. Before, we also had shortcomings. Though we were founding
member of the Council of Europe, we had been under monitoring by 2004.
We got rid of the monitoring by the reforms and a Turkish
parliamentarian was elected chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe. Of course, the countries getting democracy late
have shortcomings in these issues. Accepting the shortcomings does
not cast shadow on these countries. Turkey still has some shortcomings.
There are spheres in Turkey, where we should raise the standards of
law and democracy. Countries do not become perfect soon after gaining
independence and democracy. It is realized step-by-step. Of course,
we will encourage the fraternal countries to raise their standards of
democracy. The more democracy develops, the healthier the structures
of the countries are. I was parliamentarian at the Council of Europe
for ten years and attached great importance to the deepening of
the democracy in my country. During my activity as Minister, Prime
Minister and President I have done my best for the deepening of the
democracy in Turkey and will continue doing it. I want to underline
that deepening of the democracy in the fraternal countries needs time.
If the late President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev and incumbent
President Ilham Aliyev had not had these targets, they would not
have made the country the member of the Council of Europe. The role
of media in the democracy is very important. Without media we will
be unaware of everything. I believe that as time passes, free media
will strengthen and democracy will deepen in Azerbaijan.
Will you have new initiatives on the peace issues in the region in
autumn or will the "silent diplomacy" continue?
Of course, "silent diplomacy" will continue. We are implementing
very important projects. Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Erzurum and
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars projects. We will inaugurate Baku-Tbilisi-Kars
railroad in 2012. This railroad unites three countries. We have border
with Nakhchivan - this is our border with Azerbaijan. We unite the
highways from Europe to Georgia through the Black Sea. Road is being
constructed between Batum and Tbilisi. The road leading from Tbilisi
to Ganja is being extended. All this unite us more. Azerbaijan has
splendid future. Every time when I visit Baku I see it more developed
and I am proud of it. All these are the achievements of Honorable
President Ilham Aliyev. During my previous visit I traveled to Ganja
and liked it very much. I visited the house, where Nuri pasha stayed
in Ganja. This time there will be an opportunity to visit Shaki.
Azerbaijan has splendid future. We want Karabakh problem to be solved
by political and diplomatic ways. We will do our best for it. The
world will not accept the continuation of the occupation of the
brotherly country's territories, either. There are the decisions of
the UN. First of all Karabakh problem must be solved so that Armenia
can establish normal relations with the region. We are concerned over
the state of one million refugees. Everybody should put himself in
other's place and help it. These are national issues. Parties should
not use these issues for their interests. In this issue Azerbaijan
should trust in Ilham Aliyev, Turkey in me and Armenia in Sargsyan.
Honorable Medvedev and Obama should give more support to this
issue. I hope for the solution of these issues. I send my regards to
my Azerbaijani brothers.
From: A. Papazian
news.az
Aug 13 2010
Azerbaijan
Abdullah Gul APA interviews Abdullah Gul, Turkish President who will
visit Azerbaijan on August 16.
Turkish-Azerbaijani relations are based on the brotherhood. Your
Excellency attaches great attention to Azerbaijan and keeps friendly
relations with the President of Azerbaijan. What would you like to
say about the Turkish-Azerbaijani relations on the eve of your visit?
As a president, I made my first foreign visit to Azerbaijan. Only this
fact is a good sign of my attention to Azerbaijan and love for our
Azerbaijani brothers. We are regularly meeting with President Ilham
Aliyev. We discuss the relations between our countries and exchange
views on the regional situation. There is an undeniable truth that
we are the parts of one nation. This nation exists like different
countries, but all of people of those countries are our brothers and
compatriots. We want to see our brothers in richness and welfare. I
attach great attention to the Turkic countries within this framework.
Thank to them that they also attach same attention to us. Their
sorrow is our sorrow and their happiness is our happiness. It
was so throughout the history. What did the Caucasian Islamic
Army under the Nuri Pasha's command? The Azerbaijani people know
all of these. Thanks to Allah, the world was changed today and we
have independent countries in this world today. We have to develop
our friendship and brotherhood, to assist each other to solve the
problems and to be proud of our achievements. I visited Nakhchivan last
year. We established the Turkic Council in Nakhchivan together with
the leaders of other Turkic countries. His Excellency Aliyev hosted
us there. We had a multilateral meeting there. We seek an opportunity
to visit Baku because we shouldn't visit each other once a year or
several years. We have to create opportunities to meet for several
times a year. We will meet at the UN General Assembly in September
and we would like to exchange view on the regional issues before
visiting New York. Peace and stability in the Caucasus is the most
important problem of the region. We considered it necessary to visit
Baku to strengthen our bilateral relations and to exchange views on
the solution of regional problems as well.
You shook stones in the region making important breakthrough in
September, 2008. The main thesis is that existing status-quo will
complicate the solution of Nagorno Karabakh problem. What a phase
are your initiatives now? Will you make another breakthrough after
the consultations in Baku?
In fact, all of these events can happen. I am speaking very openly:
I have worked hard over this problem since my presidency because I
believe that this status-quo in the Caucasus is not in favor of anyone
- Azerbaijan, Turkey or Armenia. The world is changing and we need
to solve the problems. If we freeze the problems, they can arise again.
What is duty of the authorities? They have to solve the problems.
There are UN resolutions. The Minsk Group is doing serious efforts, but
unfortunately it couldn't achieve concrete results during 18 years. If
18-20 years pass since the occupation, it is not a good case. Turkey
was the first to recognize the independence of Azerbaijan. Then we
recognize Armenia. The territorial integrity of every country should
be respected in the contemporary world system.
Armenia can establish good relations with its neighbors and reach
access to sea and join the communication systems. Turkey is a great
country. While reaching "zero problem" in the relations with our
neighbors, it is not good to have problems with Armenia. Therefore fair
solution of the regional problems is in favor of all of us. We would
like that the Minsk Group approaches the solution of the problem,
but now the Minsk Group's visits to the regions are characterized
among the people as the "tourist travels". Therefore we need in new
breakthroughs. I put forward this initiative in 2008.
First I visited Yerevan and then Sargsyan visited Turkey. We informed
President Ilham Aliyev about the details of these processes. Putin and
Medvedev also participated in these processes. Russia is an important
country in the solution of this problem. Therefore we had detailed
consultations around these issues. Such heavy problems can not be
solved under the pressure of one country. These problems can be solved
by the serious efforts of the interested and regional countries. I
took it into consideration and made this breakthrough and as you noted
the stones were shaken. It was an important issue, but we couldn't
reach long distance. There were wrong understandings in Azerbaijan,
in Armenia and in Turkey as well. If the difficult issues are solved
easily they will not have a chronic character. I address all leaders:
we will not stay put and we will work unceasingly for the solution
of the problem. The solution and peace are not easy. We have to work
insistently. I will discuss these issues with my brother President
Ilham Aliyev during my visit. I believe it will be a useful visit
from this point of view.
You mention the Russia's role in establishing the peace in the region.
You had a dialogue with President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin.
There have been reports about the development o military relations
between Russia and Armenia recently. On the other hand, there is a
question of sale of Russian missiles to Azerbaijan. What would you
like to say about that?
I don't think that these processes will prevent the solution of the
problem. I know that Medvedev, Putin, Aliyev and Sargsyan don't believe
that the status-quo will not continue so. They also want the issue
to be solved. During the "cold war", the conflicts were in favor of
some countries. But now there is different situation. Everyone makes
serious efforts for the solution of the problem. Everyone should work
hard to find the optimal point because the problem gets very chronic
character. I am hopeful for stability in the Caucasus. Why not? These
issues can be solved through diplomacy and the discussions.
Nowadays occupation of a country's lands by another one cannot
last long. If the problems are not solved there can be uncontrolled
problems. Therefore we need to work insistently to solve the issue. We
need in a "silent diplomacy". Last year shaking the stones kicked up a
raw. The misunderstanding of the issue created problems in Azerbaijan,
in Armenia and in Turkey.
Now we have reached the period of silent, but resolute diplomacy. I
hope for excellent processes.
On July 30, 2007, you passed a decision to abolish visa regime for
the citizens of Azerbaijan traveling to Turkey. But the visa problem
between the two brotherly countries has not been solved. Will you
decisively bring the solution of the visa issue to the agenda?
We could not accept the visa travel with the brotherly countries
while we abolished visas with other countries. Therefore, when I
was Foreign Minister I abolished the visa travel for our brothers
from Turkic-speaking countries. We wish it to be mutual. Our
foreign ministers are holding discussions about it. We also respect
Azerbaijan's assessments in this field. But if this issue is solved,
we will be pleased.
Turkey's power is backed by free market economy and multi-party
democracy. Free Turkish media has a great role in the democratization.
What would you like to recommend to Azerbaijan viewing from Turkey's
democratic experience?
Turkey is the founding member of the Council of Europe. To be the
member of the Council is to accept its principles and realize them
in your country. The Council of Europe has been established basing
on the principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. But
the member states can not always fulfill these standards on the equal
level. Before, we also had shortcomings. Though we were founding
member of the Council of Europe, we had been under monitoring by 2004.
We got rid of the monitoring by the reforms and a Turkish
parliamentarian was elected chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe. Of course, the countries getting democracy late
have shortcomings in these issues. Accepting the shortcomings does
not cast shadow on these countries. Turkey still has some shortcomings.
There are spheres in Turkey, where we should raise the standards of
law and democracy. Countries do not become perfect soon after gaining
independence and democracy. It is realized step-by-step. Of course,
we will encourage the fraternal countries to raise their standards of
democracy. The more democracy develops, the healthier the structures
of the countries are. I was parliamentarian at the Council of Europe
for ten years and attached great importance to the deepening of
the democracy in my country. During my activity as Minister, Prime
Minister and President I have done my best for the deepening of the
democracy in Turkey and will continue doing it. I want to underline
that deepening of the democracy in the fraternal countries needs time.
If the late President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev and incumbent
President Ilham Aliyev had not had these targets, they would not
have made the country the member of the Council of Europe. The role
of media in the democracy is very important. Without media we will
be unaware of everything. I believe that as time passes, free media
will strengthen and democracy will deepen in Azerbaijan.
Will you have new initiatives on the peace issues in the region in
autumn or will the "silent diplomacy" continue?
Of course, "silent diplomacy" will continue. We are implementing
very important projects. Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Erzurum and
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars projects. We will inaugurate Baku-Tbilisi-Kars
railroad in 2012. This railroad unites three countries. We have border
with Nakhchivan - this is our border with Azerbaijan. We unite the
highways from Europe to Georgia through the Black Sea. Road is being
constructed between Batum and Tbilisi. The road leading from Tbilisi
to Ganja is being extended. All this unite us more. Azerbaijan has
splendid future. Every time when I visit Baku I see it more developed
and I am proud of it. All these are the achievements of Honorable
President Ilham Aliyev. During my previous visit I traveled to Ganja
and liked it very much. I visited the house, where Nuri pasha stayed
in Ganja. This time there will be an opportunity to visit Shaki.
Azerbaijan has splendid future. We want Karabakh problem to be solved
by political and diplomatic ways. We will do our best for it. The
world will not accept the continuation of the occupation of the
brotherly country's territories, either. There are the decisions of
the UN. First of all Karabakh problem must be solved so that Armenia
can establish normal relations with the region. We are concerned over
the state of one million refugees. Everybody should put himself in
other's place and help it. These are national issues. Parties should
not use these issues for their interests. In this issue Azerbaijan
should trust in Ilham Aliyev, Turkey in me and Armenia in Sargsyan.
Honorable Medvedev and Obama should give more support to this
issue. I hope for the solution of these issues. I send my regards to
my Azerbaijani brothers.
From: A. Papazian