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The Hill, DC
Nov 2 2014
Misinterpretation leads Azerbaijani diplomacy
By Aram Avetisyan
The Oct. 24 op-ed by Nasimi Aghayev on The Hill's Congress blog,
related to Artsakh's (Nagorno Karabakh's) conflict with Azerbaijan, is
intended to mislead the readers.
Joint resolution AJR 32 that supports Artsakh Republic's independence,
self-determination and democracy was passed in an overwhelming
bipartisan vote both in the California State Assembly (72 vs 1) and
California Senate (24 vs 0). This clearly shows overwhelming support
for Artsakh in California, rather than some narrow lobbying effort, in
spite of the years of efforts and millions spent by Aghayev's
Consulate in lobbying to sway this legislature's views in his regime's
favor.
ADVERTISEMENT
Aghayev has the right to be upset about the failure of his country's
"caviar diplomacy" in California, but should still be taken to task
for his misrepresentations.
Artsakh used peaceful, democratic means to accomplish its people's
long-cherished dream of independence from Soviet Azerbaijani abuses.
The war was Azerbaijan's choice, not Artsakh's, and was a result of
the failure to grasp the logic of de-colonization by Azerbaijan's
leaders.
Our goal today is to prevent future tragedies and find a way forward
for peaceful resolution of Nagorno Karabakh Republic's conflict with
Azerbaijan. We regret that this goal is not shared by the Aliyev
regime. The massive military spending, the daily hate rhetoric against
ethnic Armenians, the harassment of Azerbaijanis who want peace and
their treatment as traitors, do not augur well for the future.
Now on to some of Aghayev's arguments:
The UN Security Council resolutions were intended to establish peace
rather than prop up Azerbaijan. They called upon the conflicting sides
(Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia) to restore a cease-fire and
lift blockades. Unfortunately, even 20 years later, Azerbaijan has
failed to implement these core requirements. Azerbaijan has
disregarded repeated calls by the international community, including
the U.S. government, to pull back snipers from the Line of Contact and
begin building mutual trust. Azerbaijan's irresponsible actions result
in frequent deaths of soldiers and civilians on both sides.
The Azerbaijani diplomat's attempts to portray the Karabakh conflict
as a territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan contradicts
the cease-fire agreement of 1994 signed by Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Nagorno Karabakh that clearly reflected its trilateral format. It also
runs counter to the logic of the Karabakh peace process under auspices
of OSCE Minsk group that applies three equal principals of
international law- non-use of force or the threat of force,
territorial integrity, and peoples' right to self-determination - for
the final settlement of Karabakh conflict. The lack of any progress in
negotiations derives not from mediators or both Armenian sides, but
from aggressive and "ostrich" policy of Azerbaijan that refuses to
restore prior 1998 negotiations format with direct participation of
the NKR, and continues relying on military settlement of the conflict.
Aghayev's praise of his country "an example of post-Soviet success" is
both ridiculous and typical of his regime's rhetoric. A corrupted
regime benefitting from oil wealth that punishes its citizens for
Facebook comments, holds about a hundred political prisoners, cracks
down on human rights activists and NGOs including U.S. and
international organizations despite critics from global community
including President Obama is hardly an example anyone would want to
follow. Recently, Baku's poor human rights records have launched
discussions about possible sanctions against Azerbaijan.
Unless the Aliyev regime is clearly held responsible for its
misbehavior both in its domestic and foreign policy, its
transgressions are likely to continue opening opportunities for
greater instability.
We thank California for recognizing these realities, by joining a
number of other U.S. states as well as the U.S. Congress, in extending
support for Artsakh and its democracy.
Avetisyan is counselor at the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
(NKR) in the USA.
Aghayev's opinion can be read at
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/221579-special-interest-manipulation-damages-american-foreign
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/222489-misinterpretation-leads-azerbaijani-diplomacy
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Nov 2 2014
Misinterpretation leads Azerbaijani diplomacy
By Aram Avetisyan
The Oct. 24 op-ed by Nasimi Aghayev on The Hill's Congress blog,
related to Artsakh's (Nagorno Karabakh's) conflict with Azerbaijan, is
intended to mislead the readers.
Joint resolution AJR 32 that supports Artsakh Republic's independence,
self-determination and democracy was passed in an overwhelming
bipartisan vote both in the California State Assembly (72 vs 1) and
California Senate (24 vs 0). This clearly shows overwhelming support
for Artsakh in California, rather than some narrow lobbying effort, in
spite of the years of efforts and millions spent by Aghayev's
Consulate in lobbying to sway this legislature's views in his regime's
favor.
ADVERTISEMENT
Aghayev has the right to be upset about the failure of his country's
"caviar diplomacy" in California, but should still be taken to task
for his misrepresentations.
Artsakh used peaceful, democratic means to accomplish its people's
long-cherished dream of independence from Soviet Azerbaijani abuses.
The war was Azerbaijan's choice, not Artsakh's, and was a result of
the failure to grasp the logic of de-colonization by Azerbaijan's
leaders.
Our goal today is to prevent future tragedies and find a way forward
for peaceful resolution of Nagorno Karabakh Republic's conflict with
Azerbaijan. We regret that this goal is not shared by the Aliyev
regime. The massive military spending, the daily hate rhetoric against
ethnic Armenians, the harassment of Azerbaijanis who want peace and
their treatment as traitors, do not augur well for the future.
Now on to some of Aghayev's arguments:
The UN Security Council resolutions were intended to establish peace
rather than prop up Azerbaijan. They called upon the conflicting sides
(Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia) to restore a cease-fire and
lift blockades. Unfortunately, even 20 years later, Azerbaijan has
failed to implement these core requirements. Azerbaijan has
disregarded repeated calls by the international community, including
the U.S. government, to pull back snipers from the Line of Contact and
begin building mutual trust. Azerbaijan's irresponsible actions result
in frequent deaths of soldiers and civilians on both sides.
The Azerbaijani diplomat's attempts to portray the Karabakh conflict
as a territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan contradicts
the cease-fire agreement of 1994 signed by Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Nagorno Karabakh that clearly reflected its trilateral format. It also
runs counter to the logic of the Karabakh peace process under auspices
of OSCE Minsk group that applies three equal principals of
international law- non-use of force or the threat of force,
territorial integrity, and peoples' right to self-determination - for
the final settlement of Karabakh conflict. The lack of any progress in
negotiations derives not from mediators or both Armenian sides, but
from aggressive and "ostrich" policy of Azerbaijan that refuses to
restore prior 1998 negotiations format with direct participation of
the NKR, and continues relying on military settlement of the conflict.
Aghayev's praise of his country "an example of post-Soviet success" is
both ridiculous and typical of his regime's rhetoric. A corrupted
regime benefitting from oil wealth that punishes its citizens for
Facebook comments, holds about a hundred political prisoners, cracks
down on human rights activists and NGOs including U.S. and
international organizations despite critics from global community
including President Obama is hardly an example anyone would want to
follow. Recently, Baku's poor human rights records have launched
discussions about possible sanctions against Azerbaijan.
Unless the Aliyev regime is clearly held responsible for its
misbehavior both in its domestic and foreign policy, its
transgressions are likely to continue opening opportunities for
greater instability.
We thank California for recognizing these realities, by joining a
number of other U.S. states as well as the U.S. Congress, in extending
support for Artsakh and its democracy.
Avetisyan is counselor at the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
(NKR) in the USA.
Aghayev's opinion can be read at
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/221579-special-interest-manipulation-damages-american-foreign
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/222489-misinterpretation-leads-azerbaijani-diplomacy
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress