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BALCANICAUCASO.ORG: HEYDAR AND ILHAM ALIYEVS' VIEWS ON KARABAKH SETTLEMENT DIFFER
19:14 01/04/2013 " REGION
In recent months, a number of incidents have taken tensions between
Armenia and Azerbaijan to very high levels. On the Azeri side,
the rhetoric is more and more explicitly anti-Armenian and warlike,
as clearly exemplified by the Safarov case and the story of writer
Akram Aylisli. Yet, things have not always been such, the Italian
news site Balcanicaucaso.org says in one of its analytic articles.
A fragment from the speech of Heydar Aliyev is presented in the article
pronounced in the presence of Armenian and Georgian journalists on
July 1st, 1999.
Unfortunately, the conflict that took place in 1988 in the period
of Soviet Union caused difficulties and relations between Armenia
and Azerbaijan that have never existed before in the history. If
we look at the history we can see that there were conflicts between
Armenians and Azerbaijanis on different levels. They caused victims
and bloodshed, however, later on this conflict was solved and the
peaceful situation was restored. For example, let`s take the event
of 1905 or 1918, some years later the relationships were resumed,
people became friends and the bad was forgotten. That is clear and
natural. People don`t want bad things, they want good ones. This is
not the case of only Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Let`s recall how many countries were engaged in the World War II and
how severe was the war between Russia, the Soviet Union and Germany.
And now look how perfect relationships they have now. One can say the
same words about many European countries that have been fighting for
many decades. All this was left in the past, now they have friendly
relationships, the European Union was even established in Europe,
they keep integrating and approaching. [...]
We adhere the peaceful settlement of the conflict. I think that
we will find the way of settlement of the conflict and it will
be in conformity with interests of both Armenia and Azerbaijan. I
don`t think that Armenia and Azerbaijan will always be in conflict
situation. I don`t think so. Because the history proves that it is not
possible. [...] However, not only Azerbaijan suffered losses, Armenia
had losses as well, there are handicapped people in Armenia too.
Therefore, it is necessary to establish the atmosphere of trust in
order to go towards peace and settle the conflict peacefully."
Then H. ALiyev stated that journalists of two countries could play
a special role in thisprocess.
"I quote now an excerpt from a recent speech by President Ilham
Aliyev, son of Heydar, on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary
of the founding of the Azeri ruling party, the New Azerbaijan Party,"
the author who wishes to make parallels says.
"The main focus of our foreign policy is the resolution of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We will continue
our efforts. I want to reiterate that our position is very firm, it
is based on international law, history, justice and on our growing
strength. We are conducting talks and at the same time building up
our military strength. The gap between Armenia and Azerbaijan is
already very large and keeps expanding day by day. Azerbaijan grows
stronger and more powerful by the year, while Armenia weakens and
declines every year. Evidence of this is the mass exodus of people
from Armenia to other countries," Ilham ALiyev stated.
The current president of Azerbaijan also noted, "We will continue
our efforts to isolate Armenia. This policy is working. We see its
results. We will continue to expose Armenia's aggressive policy in all
international organizations. The number of our friends in the world is
growing. A growing number of countries want to cooperate with us. We
have started to invest in various areas in foreign countries. This is
a new process. We will step it up. Thus, our political and economic
relations with all countries of the world will become even stronger
in the future."
I. Aliev also noted that Azerbaijan will strive to make as many
countries as possible recognize Aghdam events that took place in 1991
as an act of genocide.
"So from a medium- and long-term perspective, the restoration of
Azerbaijan's territorial integrity is beyond doubt. Neither we nor the
mediators involved in the matter have any doubts about that. That is
why we believe that international mediators have been more active
in addressing the issue lately. Everyone knows that the growing
political, economic and military power of Azerbaijan will lead to a
complete resolution of the issue in favor of Azerbaijan. I want to
reiterate that we are involved in negotiations. But along with that,
we take all other steps and are ready for all the other options. I
repeat that Azerbaijan has strong legal, historical and political
grounds. I have no doubt that Azerbaijan will restore its territorial
integrity. The solution to this problem is possible on the basis of
these principles," Ilham Aliyev continued.
President also stated that there are "such forces - pro-Armenian,
anti-Azerbaijani and Islamophobic forces which can't come to terms
with our success and development." "Our main enemy is the Armenian
lobby. I have often talked about it, I want to say it again without
fearing anyone - our enemy is the Armenian lobby. Because Armenia
as a country is of no value. It is actually a colony, an outpost run
from abroad, a territory artificially created on ancient Azerbaijani
lands," Ilham Aliyev stated.
According to the author of the article Aliyev does not hide the fact
that Azerbaijan is strengthening its military power and trying to
isolate Armenia, which he calls "a country of no value", suggesting
also that the territory of contemporary Armenia is historically Azeri.
"No sign of the need for a reconciliation process, of an agreement
that satisfies both countries, of the inevitability of peace and
friendship between two neighbouring peoples that characterized the
speech of Aliyev father in 1999. I quoted two excerpts from public
speeches by Ilham and Heydar Aliyev, separated by over 10 years. These
are individual speeches in different contexts that, as meaningful as
they may be, certainly cannot reflect the complexity of the Aliyevs'
approach towards the Armenian-Azeri conflict under their presidencies.
They do, however, signal that something has changed. The rhetoric of
Aliyev father seems remarkably conciliatory and pacific compared to
his son's," the article says.
Source: Panorama.am
19:14 01/04/2013 " REGION
In recent months, a number of incidents have taken tensions between
Armenia and Azerbaijan to very high levels. On the Azeri side,
the rhetoric is more and more explicitly anti-Armenian and warlike,
as clearly exemplified by the Safarov case and the story of writer
Akram Aylisli. Yet, things have not always been such, the Italian
news site Balcanicaucaso.org says in one of its analytic articles.
A fragment from the speech of Heydar Aliyev is presented in the article
pronounced in the presence of Armenian and Georgian journalists on
July 1st, 1999.
Unfortunately, the conflict that took place in 1988 in the period
of Soviet Union caused difficulties and relations between Armenia
and Azerbaijan that have never existed before in the history. If
we look at the history we can see that there were conflicts between
Armenians and Azerbaijanis on different levels. They caused victims
and bloodshed, however, later on this conflict was solved and the
peaceful situation was restored. For example, let`s take the event
of 1905 or 1918, some years later the relationships were resumed,
people became friends and the bad was forgotten. That is clear and
natural. People don`t want bad things, they want good ones. This is
not the case of only Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Let`s recall how many countries were engaged in the World War II and
how severe was the war between Russia, the Soviet Union and Germany.
And now look how perfect relationships they have now. One can say the
same words about many European countries that have been fighting for
many decades. All this was left in the past, now they have friendly
relationships, the European Union was even established in Europe,
they keep integrating and approaching. [...]
We adhere the peaceful settlement of the conflict. I think that
we will find the way of settlement of the conflict and it will
be in conformity with interests of both Armenia and Azerbaijan. I
don`t think that Armenia and Azerbaijan will always be in conflict
situation. I don`t think so. Because the history proves that it is not
possible. [...] However, not only Azerbaijan suffered losses, Armenia
had losses as well, there are handicapped people in Armenia too.
Therefore, it is necessary to establish the atmosphere of trust in
order to go towards peace and settle the conflict peacefully."
Then H. ALiyev stated that journalists of two countries could play
a special role in thisprocess.
"I quote now an excerpt from a recent speech by President Ilham
Aliyev, son of Heydar, on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary
of the founding of the Azeri ruling party, the New Azerbaijan Party,"
the author who wishes to make parallels says.
"The main focus of our foreign policy is the resolution of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We will continue
our efforts. I want to reiterate that our position is very firm, it
is based on international law, history, justice and on our growing
strength. We are conducting talks and at the same time building up
our military strength. The gap between Armenia and Azerbaijan is
already very large and keeps expanding day by day. Azerbaijan grows
stronger and more powerful by the year, while Armenia weakens and
declines every year. Evidence of this is the mass exodus of people
from Armenia to other countries," Ilham ALiyev stated.
The current president of Azerbaijan also noted, "We will continue
our efforts to isolate Armenia. This policy is working. We see its
results. We will continue to expose Armenia's aggressive policy in all
international organizations. The number of our friends in the world is
growing. A growing number of countries want to cooperate with us. We
have started to invest in various areas in foreign countries. This is
a new process. We will step it up. Thus, our political and economic
relations with all countries of the world will become even stronger
in the future."
I. Aliev also noted that Azerbaijan will strive to make as many
countries as possible recognize Aghdam events that took place in 1991
as an act of genocide.
"So from a medium- and long-term perspective, the restoration of
Azerbaijan's territorial integrity is beyond doubt. Neither we nor the
mediators involved in the matter have any doubts about that. That is
why we believe that international mediators have been more active
in addressing the issue lately. Everyone knows that the growing
political, economic and military power of Azerbaijan will lead to a
complete resolution of the issue in favor of Azerbaijan. I want to
reiterate that we are involved in negotiations. But along with that,
we take all other steps and are ready for all the other options. I
repeat that Azerbaijan has strong legal, historical and political
grounds. I have no doubt that Azerbaijan will restore its territorial
integrity. The solution to this problem is possible on the basis of
these principles," Ilham Aliyev continued.
President also stated that there are "such forces - pro-Armenian,
anti-Azerbaijani and Islamophobic forces which can't come to terms
with our success and development." "Our main enemy is the Armenian
lobby. I have often talked about it, I want to say it again without
fearing anyone - our enemy is the Armenian lobby. Because Armenia
as a country is of no value. It is actually a colony, an outpost run
from abroad, a territory artificially created on ancient Azerbaijani
lands," Ilham Aliyev stated.
According to the author of the article Aliyev does not hide the fact
that Azerbaijan is strengthening its military power and trying to
isolate Armenia, which he calls "a country of no value", suggesting
also that the territory of contemporary Armenia is historically Azeri.
"No sign of the need for a reconciliation process, of an agreement
that satisfies both countries, of the inevitability of peace and
friendship between two neighbouring peoples that characterized the
speech of Aliyev father in 1999. I quoted two excerpts from public
speeches by Ilham and Heydar Aliyev, separated by over 10 years. These
are individual speeches in different contexts that, as meaningful as
they may be, certainly cannot reflect the complexity of the Aliyevs'
approach towards the Armenian-Azeri conflict under their presidencies.
They do, however, signal that something has changed. The rhetoric of
Aliyev father seems remarkably conciliatory and pacific compared to
his son's," the article says.
Source: Panorama.am