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Global Insight
November 21, 2012
Peace talks remain elusive as Azerbaijan's president increases hostile
rhetoric against Armenia
by Lilit Gevorgyan
On 20 November an inflammatory speech attacking Armenia and Armenians
worldwide by Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev triggered a sharp
reaction from Yerevan. The speech underlined the lack of improvement
even in rhetoric to allow the negotiating parties to return to peace
talks over the final status of the ethnic-Armenian Nagorno Karabakh
entity. Last week, Aliyev delivered a controversial speech to the
ruling Yeni Azerbaijan party celebratory session to mark its 20th
year. Aliyev was elected in 2003 replacing his father, Soviet era
leader Heydar. Aliyev publicised dozens of inflammatory quotes from an
earlier speech. Armenian officials were quick to respond. The deputy
chairman of the Armenian Parliament Eduard Sharmazanov told Agence
France-Presse that "Aliyev shows by his cynical proclamations that
there are still supporters of fascism in the 21st century, and that
this ideology flourishes thanks to leaders like him."
Significance:Aliyev's speech is intended for a domestic audience where
the opposition remains greatly marginalized. A nationalist card offers
a useful distraction for the public from the ever-widening wealth gap
and corruption under Aliyev. Having removed all constitutional
constraints on presidential terms, Aliyev is set to run and most
likely win his third presidential term in late 2013. However, his
anti-Armenian rhetoric will undermine Azerbaijan's international
image, which the president has been trying to improve by investing
billions of dollars in hosting sports and entertainment events. The
latest damaging move comes after Aliyev decided to pardon Ramil
Safarov, an Azerbaijani military officer convicted for life by a
Hungarian court for murdering a fellow Armenian officer at NATO
language course in Budapest. The move not only triggered international
criticism but also effectively halted the peace talks as the Armenian
side argued that the Azerbaijani leadership did not allow any room for
the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh. The latest move by Aliyev
will deepen this mistrust and push back further the re-opening of
peace talks.
November 21, 2012
Peace talks remain elusive as Azerbaijan's president increases hostile
rhetoric against Armenia
by Lilit Gevorgyan
On 20 November an inflammatory speech attacking Armenia and Armenians
worldwide by Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev triggered a sharp
reaction from Yerevan. The speech underlined the lack of improvement
even in rhetoric to allow the negotiating parties to return to peace
talks over the final status of the ethnic-Armenian Nagorno Karabakh
entity. Last week, Aliyev delivered a controversial speech to the
ruling Yeni Azerbaijan party celebratory session to mark its 20th
year. Aliyev was elected in 2003 replacing his father, Soviet era
leader Heydar. Aliyev publicised dozens of inflammatory quotes from an
earlier speech. Armenian officials were quick to respond. The deputy
chairman of the Armenian Parliament Eduard Sharmazanov told Agence
France-Presse that "Aliyev shows by his cynical proclamations that
there are still supporters of fascism in the 21st century, and that
this ideology flourishes thanks to leaders like him."
Significance:Aliyev's speech is intended for a domestic audience where
the opposition remains greatly marginalized. A nationalist card offers
a useful distraction for the public from the ever-widening wealth gap
and corruption under Aliyev. Having removed all constitutional
constraints on presidential terms, Aliyev is set to run and most
likely win his third presidential term in late 2013. However, his
anti-Armenian rhetoric will undermine Azerbaijan's international
image, which the president has been trying to improve by investing
billions of dollars in hosting sports and entertainment events. The
latest damaging move comes after Aliyev decided to pardon Ramil
Safarov, an Azerbaijani military officer convicted for life by a
Hungarian court for murdering a fellow Armenian officer at NATO
language course in Budapest. The move not only triggered international
criticism but also effectively halted the peace talks as the Armenian
side argued that the Azerbaijani leadership did not allow any room for
the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh. The latest move by Aliyev
will deepen this mistrust and push back further the re-opening of
peace talks.