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GERMANS 'ON AZERBAIJAN'S SIDE' OVER KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
news.az
Nov 21 2011
Azerbaijan
News.Az interviews German politician Dr Werner Munch, former prime
minister of Saxony-Anhalt and a former member of the CDU.
You recently visited Azerbaijan as part of the celebrations of the
20th anniversary of the republic's independence. As far as I know,
this was not your first visit here?
Yes, it was not my first visit to your country; I visited Azerbaijan
for the first time in 2004 and have paid regular visits here ever
since. I extend political support to Azerbaijan in its contacts with
European institutions - the Council of Europe, European Parliament
and so on. I, as a former premier, have many contacts and certainly
great political experience.
What do you think about the prospects for Azerbaijan's development?
First of all, I would like to say some words about the past. It has
been 20 years since the development of the independent Azerbaijan
Republic started and I, as someone who witnessed the past seven
of these years, can say that the country's development has been
remarkable, which can be seen in the infrastructure, buildings, roads.
The country's leadership is right to say that Azerbaijan is a bridge
between West and East, North and South, a country where different
religions coexist. The main problem is Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia's
position. I think we have to find a solution to this big problem.
Azerbaijan's position on the conflict is fair and I hope that this
problem will be settled in the near future.
Why doesn't Europe take an active part in the resolution of the
problem, when it says that it has major economic interests in
Azerbaijan?
The Karabakh conflict is not a problem of economic interests, it is
primarily a problem of human rights and international law. Certainly,
there is the Minsk Group, uniting Russia, the United States and
France, but they have their own differing interests which makes it
impossible to find an unbiased solution to the conflict. Therefore,
other influential countries and international institutions and the
EU should deal closely with the problem settlement.
The Armenian leadership states that Karabakh will not return to Baku's
jurisdiction. Can Azerbaijan learn from the experience of Germany,
which successfully settled the problem of the country's unification
more than 20 years ago?
I think on Germany's example, we had quite a similar situation,
when Germany was divided into the FRG and GDR. And most German
politicians before Germany's unification said that this unification
was impossible. But there were people who insisted on the resolution
of the problem and believed that it would happen. It happened in 1990,
when the democratic part of the country united with the part ruled
by communist dictatorship.
I am sure that Azerbaijan will also have this chance for unification
of its land. You have so many refugees and they have the complete
right to return home. Therefore, I believe that the Germans are very
good friends of Azerbaijan, which is why they understand your problem
and are 100% on your side.
news.az
Nov 21 2011
Azerbaijan
News.Az interviews German politician Dr Werner Munch, former prime
minister of Saxony-Anhalt and a former member of the CDU.
You recently visited Azerbaijan as part of the celebrations of the
20th anniversary of the republic's independence. As far as I know,
this was not your first visit here?
Yes, it was not my first visit to your country; I visited Azerbaijan
for the first time in 2004 and have paid regular visits here ever
since. I extend political support to Azerbaijan in its contacts with
European institutions - the Council of Europe, European Parliament
and so on. I, as a former premier, have many contacts and certainly
great political experience.
What do you think about the prospects for Azerbaijan's development?
First of all, I would like to say some words about the past. It has
been 20 years since the development of the independent Azerbaijan
Republic started and I, as someone who witnessed the past seven
of these years, can say that the country's development has been
remarkable, which can be seen in the infrastructure, buildings, roads.
The country's leadership is right to say that Azerbaijan is a bridge
between West and East, North and South, a country where different
religions coexist. The main problem is Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia's
position. I think we have to find a solution to this big problem.
Azerbaijan's position on the conflict is fair and I hope that this
problem will be settled in the near future.
Why doesn't Europe take an active part in the resolution of the
problem, when it says that it has major economic interests in
Azerbaijan?
The Karabakh conflict is not a problem of economic interests, it is
primarily a problem of human rights and international law. Certainly,
there is the Minsk Group, uniting Russia, the United States and
France, but they have their own differing interests which makes it
impossible to find an unbiased solution to the conflict. Therefore,
other influential countries and international institutions and the
EU should deal closely with the problem settlement.
The Armenian leadership states that Karabakh will not return to Baku's
jurisdiction. Can Azerbaijan learn from the experience of Germany,
which successfully settled the problem of the country's unification
more than 20 years ago?
I think on Germany's example, we had quite a similar situation,
when Germany was divided into the FRG and GDR. And most German
politicians before Germany's unification said that this unification
was impossible. But there were people who insisted on the resolution
of the problem and believed that it would happen. It happened in 1990,
when the democratic part of the country united with the part ruled
by communist dictatorship.
I am sure that Azerbaijan will also have this chance for unification
of its land. You have so many refugees and they have the complete
right to return home. Therefore, I believe that the Germans are very
good friends of Azerbaijan, which is why they understand your problem
and are 100% on your side.