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ANKARA: Time To Reconsider: The Limits Of Karabakh

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  • ANKARA: Time To Reconsider: The Limits Of Karabakh

    TIME TO RECONSIDER: THE LIMITS OF KARABAKH
    By Elnur Aslanov

    Today's Zaman
    March 15 2010
    Turkey

    South Caucasus, 2010... Twenty-two years of conflict between Azerbaijan
    and Armenia.

    For those who still do not know, it is a conflict revolving around
    the ancient Azerbaijani territory of Nagorno-Karabakh now occupied
    by Armenia. The conflict has turned more than 1 million people into
    refugees and caused enormous damage to regional economic development.

    Numerous potential economic and political projects that would have
    brought the South Caucasus closer to Europe have been sidelined. The
    South Caucasus has sunk into an abyss of conflict, the analysis of
    which has troubled the world's leading powers. All Azerbaijanis have
    been expelled from Armenia, while 20,000 Armenians still reside in
    Azerbaijan. Nationalist sentiments are growing constantly in both
    states. Mothers fear the beginning of war, while politicians calculate
    the risks.

    But for what? For the sake of "the misguided initiative" of a certain
    political power that governs Armenia, a small South Caucasus republic
    of about 3 million people? Nobody can disagree that the principle of
    territorial integrity is a fundamental principle of international law.

    And surely no one can think that Nagorno-Karabakh will ever become an
    independent actor in international relations. So what is it all about?

    Is it not better to live in peace in your own country and enjoy all the
    boons and privileges bestowed by the social and economic development
    of a country rich in energy resources?

    Today, the Karabakh Armenians have food for thought. Azerbaijan is
    a country of ancient traditions, at the heart of which lies tolerance.

    Historically we have proved this to be true, and it has often been
    used against us. We continued to live in peace with the Armenians even
    after the genocide of Azerbaijanis in March 1918. We continued to
    consider Baku an international city, despite the active resistance
    of the Armenian population to the declaration of Azerbaijani as
    the official language in the constitution of 1956. Prior to the
    onset of the conflict, an elite part of the city of Baku was even
    called "the Armenian settlement." We Azerbaijanis continued to see
    the events of 1988, when the Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict began,
    as a misunderstanding and believed that fraternal people could not
    act like this. In 1988, when provocations by Armenian circles led to
    bloodshed in Azerbaijani cities such as Sumgayit, many of us believed
    that it would still be possible to change things. Years have passed,
    but irrationality has grown in Armenia.

    Today, two decades later, a TV channel and a news agency in the
    Armenian language function in Azerbaijan. What about Armenia? The
    answer is obvious: none. We understand better that the South Caucasus
    is a common house, and we call on Armenia to renounce unconstructive
    politics and halt the pressure on their compatriots.

    The Armenians of Karabakh would be happy to live in houses where
    there is light, warmth and amenities. They would like to enjoy the
    fine infrastructure that would open them up to the intensive economic
    development of Azerbaijan. Certainly, the Armenians of Karabakh dream
    of the social security system, public health services, education
    and other social benefits and advantages that are available to the
    residents of neighboring Azerbaijani cities. Moreover, the Armenians of
    Karabakh would be part of the social life of the country that they used
    to live in. What have the years of conflict given to those whose lives
    are in misery in Karabakh? Why do they agree with the aspirations of
    "outside forces" that prevent them realizing the ideal of living in
    peace in their own state, Azerbaijan?

    Today Armenians live in Azerbaijan, while in Armenia there are no
    Azerbaijanis. There are citizens in Azerbaijan with Armenian surnames;
    there are none with Azerbaijani surnames in Armenia. We have proved
    that we are capable of living together despite war and loss, pain and
    sacrifice. Strangely enough, we have been tolerant of the people whose
    leadership has been waging war against us for our ancient lands for 22
    years. The Armenians should now prove that they are capable of living
    together with us. The South Caucasus is a common house for the people
    settled there, and the time has come to realize this. Armenians moved
    to Karabakh a little more than two centuries ago, but we understand
    that for the Armenian families that have lived there for generations
    Karabakh has become a native place. However, the fact that Karabakh
    belongs to the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan should not
    be questioned.

    Unfortunately, the Armenians of Karabakh fell hostage to the leaders
    of Armenia and the field commanders who served their own mercantile
    interests. War is money, and every Armenian in Karabakh should realize
    that by protracting the prompt resolution of the conflict, they line
    the pockets of war criminals. The military leadership understands
    full well that they will never achieve their purposes and continues
    to strain the situation by increasing the expenditure of an already
    scarce budget on the construction of various defense systems. They
    reiterate to the public the same theses that it would be possible to
    ensure public security only in the case of independence. Nevertheless,
    let us take a sober look. Nagorno-Karabakh, granted autonomy with
    comprehensive privileges of self-administration within Azerbaijan,
    will become a focus of international attention.

    Undoubtedly, each step of the central authority, the leadership of
    Azerbaijan in Karabakh, will be closely watched by the international
    community. The nonsense that if the Armenians of Karabakh are part
    of Azerbaijan their lives will get worse or they will be forced to
    leave all the territories at once does not hold water. The superpowers
    will ensure security guarantees for the local population. Azerbaijan
    already put its signature to security guarantees for the Azerbaijani
    and Armenian populations of Nagorno-Karabakh in the resolution of the
    1996 Lisbon Summit. Azerbaijan is willing to return its territories
    and refugees home through peaceful means and to turn Karabakh into
    a prosperous region. The population of this region can only benefit
    from this, be they Armenian or Azerbaijani.

    It's time to face the truth. New prospects are opening up, so it is
    necessary to stand firm and thwart the pressure from outside, to decide
    to live in agreement and peace for the sake of future generations. What
    does the younger generation in Karabakh believe today? Fairy tales
    about "independence"? But where is the life worth living: education,
    pensions, public health services? It's time to decide who will live
    under what circumstances -- whether to continue to create more broken
    destinies, damaged lives and deprived families or to abstain from
    illusory pseudo-ideas that instill only enmity and hatred.

    It's time to reconsider, but time is always pressing.

    *Elnur Aslanov, Ph.D., is the chief of the department of political
    analysis and information provision, Office of the President of the
    Republic of Azerbaijan.
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