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INTERNATIONAL LAW 'OBVIOUS SOLUTION' TO KARABAKH CONFLICT
news.az, Azerbaijan
Oct 31 2011
News.Az interviews Arturas Melianas, Liberal MP and deputy chairman
of the Lithuanian parliamentary committee on social affairs and labour.
Azerbaijan and Lithuania are not just partner countries. Your country,
as it is often said, is an advocate for Azerbaijan in the process of
European integration and actively lobbies the interests of Baku in
Europe. What do people in Vilnius think about Azerbaijan's current
path of development?
It is obvious that Azerbaijan has found its own path of development.
This can be seen firsthand by visiting your country. This also applies
to social development and economic growth, as well as tolerance,
which is quite noticeable. I mean the normal coexistence of different
cultures, religions and peoples. So I think that Azerbaijan has
already found its way, which is successful, the envy of many, and is
confidently following this path. I'm sure it will provide a promising
future to the country.
But of course, we all know that there is a very serious problem,
which I think the international community simply must finally resolve.
You are referring to the Armenian occupation of the Azerbaijani
land of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Is the world
interested in this?
Here I completely agree with officials from Baku, who criticize the
international community for the lack of attention to this issue because
no one has been able to settle the conflict in 20 years. There are
almost no results or they are scarcely felt. I think it's bad that
various international organizations, which are maintained with a lot
of money, have not been able to solve this problem.
What should be done in this situation? Is it so difficult for the
world to understand the root of the problem?
I believe that many people need to think that it is effective to
search for ways to resolve the conflict. The situation is obvious.
Azerbaijan's territorial integrity is violated and international law
should be complied with. So, you need to find more specific methods
to address this issue. I think they do exist. I am hopeful that that
this will happen soon.
Has your country managed to draw international attention to the
occupation of Azerbaijani land to some degree during its OSCE
chairmanship in 2011?
Yes, you are quite right. Lithuania along with some other countries
has felt what the influence of more powerful states means. Of course,
Lithuania constantly raises this question and not only during the
OSCE presidency.
Of course, this is not so easy. Other eastern European countries also
support us. Moreover, we must admit that other countries are more
engaged in other issues, which are a priority for them, for example,
economic issues that are really relevant today. And these countries
delay the solution of problems such as Karabakh.
But I think that it is inevitable to raise the Karabakh, Transnistria,
Abkhazia and South Ossetia problems constantly. These issues must be
resolved, otherwise Europe may itself face similar conflicts if the
perpetrator is not punished.
news.az, Azerbaijan
Oct 31 2011
News.Az interviews Arturas Melianas, Liberal MP and deputy chairman
of the Lithuanian parliamentary committee on social affairs and labour.
Azerbaijan and Lithuania are not just partner countries. Your country,
as it is often said, is an advocate for Azerbaijan in the process of
European integration and actively lobbies the interests of Baku in
Europe. What do people in Vilnius think about Azerbaijan's current
path of development?
It is obvious that Azerbaijan has found its own path of development.
This can be seen firsthand by visiting your country. This also applies
to social development and economic growth, as well as tolerance,
which is quite noticeable. I mean the normal coexistence of different
cultures, religions and peoples. So I think that Azerbaijan has
already found its way, which is successful, the envy of many, and is
confidently following this path. I'm sure it will provide a promising
future to the country.
But of course, we all know that there is a very serious problem,
which I think the international community simply must finally resolve.
You are referring to the Armenian occupation of the Azerbaijani
land of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Is the world
interested in this?
Here I completely agree with officials from Baku, who criticize the
international community for the lack of attention to this issue because
no one has been able to settle the conflict in 20 years. There are
almost no results or they are scarcely felt. I think it's bad that
various international organizations, which are maintained with a lot
of money, have not been able to solve this problem.
What should be done in this situation? Is it so difficult for the
world to understand the root of the problem?
I believe that many people need to think that it is effective to
search for ways to resolve the conflict. The situation is obvious.
Azerbaijan's territorial integrity is violated and international law
should be complied with. So, you need to find more specific methods
to address this issue. I think they do exist. I am hopeful that that
this will happen soon.
Has your country managed to draw international attention to the
occupation of Azerbaijani land to some degree during its OSCE
chairmanship in 2011?
Yes, you are quite right. Lithuania along with some other countries
has felt what the influence of more powerful states means. Of course,
Lithuania constantly raises this question and not only during the
OSCE presidency.
Of course, this is not so easy. Other eastern European countries also
support us. Moreover, we must admit that other countries are more
engaged in other issues, which are a priority for them, for example,
economic issues that are really relevant today. And these countries
delay the solution of problems such as Karabakh.
But I think that it is inevitable to raise the Karabakh, Transnistria,
Abkhazia and South Ossetia problems constantly. These issues must be
resolved, otherwise Europe may itself face similar conflicts if the
perpetrator is not punished.