Lord Peter Fraser says ‘Armenia breaches international law’

Day.Az interviewed Co-Chairman of the Anglo-Azerbaijani Society Lord Peter Fraser.

One hundred years ago Britain had not only economic, but also military presence in Azerbaijan. What are present interests of Britain in our region?

Mr.Fraser: Britain now has no military ambitions in the Caucuses or Azerbaijan. The U.K. shares the ambition of the Azerbaijani government to see the country's oil and gas reserves both onshore and offshore fully utilized. London also wants to see the whole country modernized and other industries developed. Our reserves in the North Sea are in decline but in developing them we have built up a great expertise and we believe that expertise is transferable to the Caspian and could be utilized in Azerbaijan to its benefit.
 
Azerbaijan is now on the way of the European integration. Meanwhile, we all witness regrettable experience of Turkey, which is on the same path to the EU and hampers it only because it is a Muslim country. Is Islamophobia so strong in Europe?

Mr.Fraser: The U.K. has wholly supported the entry to the EU of another Muslim country, Turkey and a Muslim Azerbaijan causes us no problems. However, other EU countries such as Germany, France and Austria are concerned that a Muslim presence within the EU would change its character.

Please, tell us a little about the Anglo-Azerbaijani Society. What steps the organization takes so that Azerbaijan was better known in the UK, particularly in Europe in general?

Mr.Fraser: The Anglo-Azerbaijani Society has no hidden or political agenda. We were originally set up at the prompting of late President Heydar Aliyev and our purpose is simply to promote ever better relations between our two countries We undertake cultural events and we also raise money for charitable projects in Azerbaijan. Without being political, I believe we have made significant strides in raising awareness of Azerbaijan in the UK With the Eurovision Song Contest in Baku and Azerbaijan's participation in the Olympics in London in August outside encouraging greater tourism and setting out both the historic and contemporary culture of Azerbaijan we have covered the full range.

We must be doing something right, as President Ilham Aliev has made me one of the few members of the Azerbaijan Order of Friendship!

By the way, 2011 is remembered as the year of great achievements for Azerbaijan. Along with the victory at the "Eurovision", the country also was elected as the non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. How do you assess this achievement and the prospects for its use?

Mr.Fraser: Azerbaijan's recent successes in gaining a seat on the Security Council and winning the Eurovision Song Contest demonstrate to me what great strides the country has taken as an independent nation. I welcome that progress but I am sure even more progress will be made in the future and bring ever greater prominence to the country.

As I have explained the Anglo-Azerbaijani Society is not political, but speaking as a lawyer, it would seem to me to be quite clear that with the UN Resolutions on Nagorno-Karabakh in favor of Azerbaijan there has been a breach of international law by Armenia and the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan abused.

Nevertheless, Armenians claim to "perfection" of the same international law in terms of attempts to tear Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan on the basis of the principle of national self-determination. Is it appropriate to talk about the validity of this principle after that Azerbaijanis, the native inhabitants of this region, were subject to ethnic cleaning in Nagorno-Karabakh?

Mr.Fraser: In no circumstances is ethnic cleansing justified.


/Day.Az/