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NAGORNO-KARABAKH WISHES TO EXIST - BAKO SAHAKYAN'S INTERVIEW TO ITALIAN PAPER
12:05 * 10.12.14
President of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Bako Sahakyan has given an
interview to the Italian publication IL GIORNO, sharing his concerns
of the country's challenges in light of the continuing land dispute
with Azerbaijan.
The translated interview is presented below.
Mr President, what impact do the Azerbaijani oil and gas have on
the negotiations?
Oil and gas have an impact on geopolitics, so Azerbaijan is no
exception. But I must emphasize one very important fact: the more
Azerbaijan exports hydrocarbons, the tougher its stance on the
negotiations. There is a permanent parallel between hydrocarbon export
agreements and Azerbaijan's desire to make the necessary concessions
to reach a peaceful settlement of the conflict. The first sign was
in 1997 when, after the signing of the first oil project, Azerbaijan
rejected negotiations with US. And this parallel continues.
Why?
Thanks to high profits from oil, Azerbaijan's military expenses have
increased by 2,500 percent in the past ten years. But I believe that
oil and military expenses are worth nothing whenever we fight for
freedom and the protection of fundamental human rights. Moreover, the
profits from exported hydrocarbons would offer the country a wonderful
opportunity to develop also social policies and become progressive
instead of being one of the most freedom-killing regions on the
Eurasian continent, which spreads anti-Armenian military propaganda,
subduing the free press.
Why don't the United Nations and international organizations take
appropriate measures?
You are right. Of course, they can do more. It is necessary to note
that the Azerbaijani efforts towards isolating Karabakh and lessening
international organizations' attention have been continuing for over
two decades. Of course, it marks the continuation of the Azerbaijani
human rights violations and pressures to which we were subjected under
the USSR. Any Azerbaijani step in this direction reveals the legitimate
causes of our struggle on the hand and strengthens our resoluteness
to head towards state-building with confident steps on the other.
As for the international community, the process of our republic's
independence and our people's right to self determination, we,
unfortunately, witness double standards here. Kosovo and Sudan's
recognition were glaring examples of that. But we never lose spirit.
Our state was founded at the moment when, like the world's key
democracies, we too, reacted to the adversary's transgressions,
exercising our right to rebel and [to protect] our self-determination.
We were coerced into an unequal war and nevertheless won. There was
a disproportion between sets of values. We were leading a battle to
protect our homes and our fundamental rights, while the Azerbaijanis
busied themselves with territorial invasions.
What about the relations with Armenia?
You know, the Armenian Diaspora, which has survived a genocide,
sees its homeland in Artsakh and om Armenia. As far as identity is
concerned, there are a kind of symbiotic relations among Artsakh,
Armenia and the Armenia Diaspora. But this doesn't affect our
resoluteness to achieve our country's de jure recognition.
Did the conflict contain a religious element?
No, the reasons were universal in terms of fundamental human rights.
But there were religious speculations by Azerbaijan during the war,
with the Azerbaijani front having Chechen jihadists and contract
killers.
Nagorno-Karabakh hasn't been recognized yet. How is it possible to
be the president of a country which doesn't exist de facto?
I don't feel myself an imperfect president; the citizens have elected
me, so we are struggling for the people's freedom. When in the trenches
yesterday, we had no room to escape, protecting our villages; today,
we are committed to the strengthening of our democratic system. I am
very resolutely disposed.
Were there blunders during the Karabakh war?
All wars are tragedies. I share every individual's grief, both on
the one side and the other. The war was imposed on us; we won and
developed sensitivity; it is possible to avoid new wars. What Baku
obviously lacks is sensitivity, as certain lessons have been forgotten.
And what about the relations with Italy?
We maintain a permanent cultural and value-based dialogue with
the people in Italy. There are not yet any political and economic
relations officially. We multiply the potential of our centuries-old
friendship. Of course, it isn't difficult given also your rebirth,
which imparted spirit to our fight and what's even more, the Lombardia
and Veneto politicians' missions in Artsakh, which were so important.
What's your message one hundred years after the Genocide?
We, the descendants of that genocide's survivors, committed ourselves
to prevent a new genocide as early as twenty years ago, and we will
do that again when necessary. The Armenophobia preached by Baku is,
of course, very adventurous.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/12/10/bako-sahakyan-il-giorno/1531586
12:05 * 10.12.14
President of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Bako Sahakyan has given an
interview to the Italian publication IL GIORNO, sharing his concerns
of the country's challenges in light of the continuing land dispute
with Azerbaijan.
The translated interview is presented below.
Mr President, what impact do the Azerbaijani oil and gas have on
the negotiations?
Oil and gas have an impact on geopolitics, so Azerbaijan is no
exception. But I must emphasize one very important fact: the more
Azerbaijan exports hydrocarbons, the tougher its stance on the
negotiations. There is a permanent parallel between hydrocarbon export
agreements and Azerbaijan's desire to make the necessary concessions
to reach a peaceful settlement of the conflict. The first sign was
in 1997 when, after the signing of the first oil project, Azerbaijan
rejected negotiations with US. And this parallel continues.
Why?
Thanks to high profits from oil, Azerbaijan's military expenses have
increased by 2,500 percent in the past ten years. But I believe that
oil and military expenses are worth nothing whenever we fight for
freedom and the protection of fundamental human rights. Moreover, the
profits from exported hydrocarbons would offer the country a wonderful
opportunity to develop also social policies and become progressive
instead of being one of the most freedom-killing regions on the
Eurasian continent, which spreads anti-Armenian military propaganda,
subduing the free press.
Why don't the United Nations and international organizations take
appropriate measures?
You are right. Of course, they can do more. It is necessary to note
that the Azerbaijani efforts towards isolating Karabakh and lessening
international organizations' attention have been continuing for over
two decades. Of course, it marks the continuation of the Azerbaijani
human rights violations and pressures to which we were subjected under
the USSR. Any Azerbaijani step in this direction reveals the legitimate
causes of our struggle on the hand and strengthens our resoluteness
to head towards state-building with confident steps on the other.
As for the international community, the process of our republic's
independence and our people's right to self determination, we,
unfortunately, witness double standards here. Kosovo and Sudan's
recognition were glaring examples of that. But we never lose spirit.
Our state was founded at the moment when, like the world's key
democracies, we too, reacted to the adversary's transgressions,
exercising our right to rebel and [to protect] our self-determination.
We were coerced into an unequal war and nevertheless won. There was
a disproportion between sets of values. We were leading a battle to
protect our homes and our fundamental rights, while the Azerbaijanis
busied themselves with territorial invasions.
What about the relations with Armenia?
You know, the Armenian Diaspora, which has survived a genocide,
sees its homeland in Artsakh and om Armenia. As far as identity is
concerned, there are a kind of symbiotic relations among Artsakh,
Armenia and the Armenia Diaspora. But this doesn't affect our
resoluteness to achieve our country's de jure recognition.
Did the conflict contain a religious element?
No, the reasons were universal in terms of fundamental human rights.
But there were religious speculations by Azerbaijan during the war,
with the Azerbaijani front having Chechen jihadists and contract
killers.
Nagorno-Karabakh hasn't been recognized yet. How is it possible to
be the president of a country which doesn't exist de facto?
I don't feel myself an imperfect president; the citizens have elected
me, so we are struggling for the people's freedom. When in the trenches
yesterday, we had no room to escape, protecting our villages; today,
we are committed to the strengthening of our democratic system. I am
very resolutely disposed.
Were there blunders during the Karabakh war?
All wars are tragedies. I share every individual's grief, both on
the one side and the other. The war was imposed on us; we won and
developed sensitivity; it is possible to avoid new wars. What Baku
obviously lacks is sensitivity, as certain lessons have been forgotten.
And what about the relations with Italy?
We maintain a permanent cultural and value-based dialogue with
the people in Italy. There are not yet any political and economic
relations officially. We multiply the potential of our centuries-old
friendship. Of course, it isn't difficult given also your rebirth,
which imparted spirit to our fight and what's even more, the Lombardia
and Veneto politicians' missions in Artsakh, which were so important.
What's your message one hundred years after the Genocide?
We, the descendants of that genocide's survivors, committed ourselves
to prevent a new genocide as early as twenty years ago, and we will
do that again when necessary. The Armenophobia preached by Baku is,
of course, very adventurous.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/12/10/bako-sahakyan-il-giorno/1531586