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PERSPECTIVES OF IRAN-AZERBAIJAN RELATIONS: COMMENTARY BY IRANIAN MAJLIS RESEARCH CENTER
By Armen Israyelyan, Iranian studies expert
During the election campaign, newly elected Iranian President Hassan
Rohani, speaking of Iran's foreign policy problems and challenges
of relations with some neighboring countries, said, "It is not an
exaggeration to say that Azerbaijan has become a threat to Iran's
security. The actions taken by some Azerbaijani officials pose
threat to Iran's territorial integrity. Therefore, Iran's responsible
officials should not show indifference to Azerbaijan's threats."
On this backdrop, the Iranian Majlis Research Center made a report
on Iran-Azerbaijan relations.
The report, published on the official website of the Iranian Majlis,
says, in part, "Since the Aliyevs came to power, anti-religious
policy was formed in Azerbaijan: they spared no effort to keep the
Azerbaijani population away from Islamic and Shiite self-consciousness
and to take the path of political and cultural secularism."
According to the report, pan-Azeri ideology was formed in Azerbaijan
over the past years, which is based on the idea of the Turkish-Azeri
nation, and represents it as unit of Azerbaijan's national identity.
To form national unity, the idea of creating "Great Azerbaijan"
was put forward, which also includes Azeri-speaking areas of Iran.
"Iran-Azerbaijan relations have cooled over the past years.
Azerbaijan strengthened political, economic and cultural ties with
the West and Israel during the past years.
This is a serious warning for Iran. All state structures of Iran
should realize the processes taking place in Azerbaijan and predict
all ways so that they are ready to carry out adequate actions for
the fair protection of the national interests of Iran should any of
the scenarios be carried out."
Analyzing the statement of Hassan Rohani and the report of the Iranian
Majlis Research Center, we can establish that this is the summary
of the past years' challenges of the bilateral relations which are
becoming even greater.
Time will show what kind of position Hassan Rohani will have on
Azerbaijan, but in consideration of strategic partnership between
Israel and Azerbaijan, Baku's policy of oppressing Islamic movements,
Azerbaijan's pretensions to Iran's northern provinces and Iranian
culture, the issue of the Caspian Sea status, border incidents and
many other issues, an atmosphere of mutual confidence is unlikely to
form between Tehran and Baku in the years to come.
Related: Iranian studies expert: Azerbaijan carries out double foreign
policy towards both West and Islamic counties
Is there a possibility of armed conflict between Iran and Azerbaijan
in Caspian Sea?
Iranian studies expert: Azerbaijan, Turkey jointly implement program
of splitting Iran
What kind of foreign policy will Iran's new President pursue?
Interview with Iranian studies expert Armen Israyelyan
http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2013/06/25/armen-idrayelyan/
By Armen Israyelyan, Iranian studies expert
During the election campaign, newly elected Iranian President Hassan
Rohani, speaking of Iran's foreign policy problems and challenges
of relations with some neighboring countries, said, "It is not an
exaggeration to say that Azerbaijan has become a threat to Iran's
security. The actions taken by some Azerbaijani officials pose
threat to Iran's territorial integrity. Therefore, Iran's responsible
officials should not show indifference to Azerbaijan's threats."
On this backdrop, the Iranian Majlis Research Center made a report
on Iran-Azerbaijan relations.
The report, published on the official website of the Iranian Majlis,
says, in part, "Since the Aliyevs came to power, anti-religious
policy was formed in Azerbaijan: they spared no effort to keep the
Azerbaijani population away from Islamic and Shiite self-consciousness
and to take the path of political and cultural secularism."
According to the report, pan-Azeri ideology was formed in Azerbaijan
over the past years, which is based on the idea of the Turkish-Azeri
nation, and represents it as unit of Azerbaijan's national identity.
To form national unity, the idea of creating "Great Azerbaijan"
was put forward, which also includes Azeri-speaking areas of Iran.
"Iran-Azerbaijan relations have cooled over the past years.
Azerbaijan strengthened political, economic and cultural ties with
the West and Israel during the past years.
This is a serious warning for Iran. All state structures of Iran
should realize the processes taking place in Azerbaijan and predict
all ways so that they are ready to carry out adequate actions for
the fair protection of the national interests of Iran should any of
the scenarios be carried out."
Analyzing the statement of Hassan Rohani and the report of the Iranian
Majlis Research Center, we can establish that this is the summary
of the past years' challenges of the bilateral relations which are
becoming even greater.
Time will show what kind of position Hassan Rohani will have on
Azerbaijan, but in consideration of strategic partnership between
Israel and Azerbaijan, Baku's policy of oppressing Islamic movements,
Azerbaijan's pretensions to Iran's northern provinces and Iranian
culture, the issue of the Caspian Sea status, border incidents and
many other issues, an atmosphere of mutual confidence is unlikely to
form between Tehran and Baku in the years to come.
Related: Iranian studies expert: Azerbaijan carries out double foreign
policy towards both West and Islamic counties
Is there a possibility of armed conflict between Iran and Azerbaijan
in Caspian Sea?
Iranian studies expert: Azerbaijan, Turkey jointly implement program
of splitting Iran
What kind of foreign policy will Iran's new President pursue?
Interview with Iranian studies expert Armen Israyelyan
http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2013/06/25/armen-idrayelyan/