AUTONOMY WITHIN AZERBAIJAN 'ONLY SOLUTION' FOR KARABAKH
Lala B. News.Az
news.az
Nov 2 2010
Azerbaijan
Hans Koechler News.Az interviews Dr Hans Koechler, chair of political
philosophy at the University of Innsbruck. The contradiction between
the principle of territorial integrity and the rights of nations to
self-determination is a problem for the resolution of territorial
conflicts. As an expert on international law, what do you think is
the way out of the situation?
I am convinced that the rights of nations to self-determination can
be exercised by the population within the territorial integrity and
national sovereignty of the state.
And specifically about the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh, which Armenians
say has the right to break away from Azerbaijan?
In this very specific case, the right to self-determination must be
exercised in a form of autonomy within Azerbaijan since the creation
of a new independent state, a sovereign territorial formation, is an
act which must be executed on the basis of the principle of national
sovereignty. In other words, this can be done with the consent of
Azerbaijan.
At the same time, the superpowers sometimes support separatist
intentions in conflict regions.
The biggest problem is that some countries apply double standards to
self-determination and the right to create a sovereign state.
May Kosovo serve as a precedent for the resolution of other conflicts,
such as Karabakh?
In the case of Kosovo, the declaration of independence of this
region did not meet international law. In this sense, no one can draw
parallels here. Kosovo should get the status of broad autonomy within
Serbia. I think this is the way the right to self-determination should
be executed by the population of Kosovo.
The situation in Azerbaijan is the same. The population of
Nagorno-Karabakh can execute its right to self-determination by means
of the status of autonomy. This means self-government within the state
of which they are a part, that is within Azerbaijan. This is the only
way to solve the problem, unless of course the parties to the conflict,
Azerbaijan and Armenia, agree on some other way to settle it.
From: A. Papazian
Lala B. News.Az
news.az
Nov 2 2010
Azerbaijan
Hans Koechler News.Az interviews Dr Hans Koechler, chair of political
philosophy at the University of Innsbruck. The contradiction between
the principle of territorial integrity and the rights of nations to
self-determination is a problem for the resolution of territorial
conflicts. As an expert on international law, what do you think is
the way out of the situation?
I am convinced that the rights of nations to self-determination can
be exercised by the population within the territorial integrity and
national sovereignty of the state.
And specifically about the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh, which Armenians
say has the right to break away from Azerbaijan?
In this very specific case, the right to self-determination must be
exercised in a form of autonomy within Azerbaijan since the creation
of a new independent state, a sovereign territorial formation, is an
act which must be executed on the basis of the principle of national
sovereignty. In other words, this can be done with the consent of
Azerbaijan.
At the same time, the superpowers sometimes support separatist
intentions in conflict regions.
The biggest problem is that some countries apply double standards to
self-determination and the right to create a sovereign state.
May Kosovo serve as a precedent for the resolution of other conflicts,
such as Karabakh?
In the case of Kosovo, the declaration of independence of this
region did not meet international law. In this sense, no one can draw
parallels here. Kosovo should get the status of broad autonomy within
Serbia. I think this is the way the right to self-determination should
be executed by the population of Kosovo.
The situation in Azerbaijan is the same. The population of
Nagorno-Karabakh can execute its right to self-determination by means
of the status of autonomy. This means self-government within the state
of which they are a part, that is within Azerbaijan. This is the only
way to solve the problem, unless of course the parties to the conflict,
Azerbaijan and Armenia, agree on some other way to settle it.
From: A. Papazian