Aliyev: Russia, EU key int'l actors seeking Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization [UPDATE]

By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

President Ilham Aliyev has said that Russia and the European Union are the main international actors aiming to help normalize Azerbaijan-Armenia relations.

He made the remarks in an interview with the Spanish El Pais newspaper in Brussels on December 15.

“I see the genuine desire of Russia and the European Union to help to normalize relations between the two countries. Russia and the EU are one of the main international actors. There is a lot of things for them to do, a very broad agenda. If they spent time and efforts and not once but regularly, to convene with leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia, to discuss these issues that means that their genuine desire is to help. And we appreciate that,” he said.

He stated that these efforts of the international community of institutions and countries which are interested in long-lasting peace may result in something very positive.

“Because after so many years of occupation and hostility international players definitely should support the process. Also if Armenia agrees to engage with us in elaborating the peace treaty, of course, we will need international expertise. We will need international partners which will help us to formulate the chapters, to formulate the basic principles and to find a solution,” he said.

European Commission contribution

The president stated that Azerbaijan highly appreciates the activity of the European Commission and personally European Council President Charles Michel, who is contributing a lot to the creation of ground for normalization of Azerbaijani-Armenian relations.

Aliyev recalled Michel's visit to the region this summer and noted that his initiative to establish a direct link between the Azerbaijani and Armenian defence ministers is also working.

“So, this clearly demonstrates the willingness and readiness of the European Commission to facilitate in the creation of a stable environment in the Southern Caucasus, and in the future to facilitate the establishment of the trilateral format of interaction among the three Southern Caucasus countries,” he said.

Peace treaty with Armenia

Noting that Azerbaijan is ready to start peace negotiations with Armenia and to start working on a peace agreement, the president noted that there has been no answer from the Armenian leadership so far.

“Because peace agreement, if signed, one of the main provisions of this peace agreement will be mutual recognition of territorial integrity of both countries. Armenia doesn’t want to recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,” he said.

“The whole world recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and recognizes Karabakh as an integral part of Azerbaijan. Armenia doesn’t say they do not recognize, doesn’t say they recognize,” he added.

The president emphasized that Azerbaijan want to start immediate negotiations on a peace agreement with Armenia, a comprehensive agreement, which will be not a ceasefire but a full peace agreement.

Speaking about the willingness to open the borders, Aliyev noted that the building of the demolished railroad on the liberated territories towards the Armenian border already started.

“In previous months Armenia was objecting the opening of the highway. But now we managed to persuade them that it’s inevitable and they also agreed on that. So, there is understanding,” he said.

He recalled that during the trilateral meeting in Sochi last month, they adopted a declaration that really talks about the opening of communications.

Peace, not war

Stressing that Azerbaijan’s position is absolutely open and clear, Aliyev underlined that “we want peace, we don’t want war”.

“We won the war, and we are the winner and this reality should be taken into account. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has been resolved. There is no return to any kind of discussion about the so-called status of Nagorno-Karabakh or something of that,” he said.

Aliyev recalled that Azerbaijan implemented the UN Security Council resolutions unilaterally after 27 years as they have been adopted, he stressed that this is a new reality, which must be taken into account by Armenia in the first place.

“Armenia should refrain from any kind of hostile actions against Azerbaijan, should refrain from territorial claims to Azerbaijan because I said a couple of times that we have much more historical grounds to have territorial claims to Armenia,” he said.

Moreover, emphasizing the need and readiness to learn to live side by side and prepare grounds for normalizations of relations, Aliyev stated that so far no positive signs on this were received from Armenia.

“For the government of Armenia, it’s important to lead the process of normalization. Not to be behind the public opinion which was based on the cultivation of hatred against Azerbaijanis. To lead the public opinion, to make very important steps to persuade the people that the only way for Armenia to develop is to normalize relations with Azerbaijan, to normalize the relations with Turkey, to become a neighbour, a normal neighbour not a hostile neighbour, and to refrain from territorial claims. So, I think that if this formula is accepted by the Armenian government and political elite, we have a chance for progress,” he said.

Prisoners of war

Speaking about the detained persons, Aliyev stated that Azerbaijan, after the second Karabakh war ended, released before Armenia all the prisoners of war, and this can be proved by international observers.

“Those people which are now in detention cannot be considered as prisoners of war, because most of them have been sent to the liberated territories at the end of November, almost 20 days after the war ended, to commit acts of terror,” he said.

Aliyev recalled that they committed these acts of terror as a result of which, several servicemen and civilians were killed, adding that they have been detained and brought to justice.

“Some of them were released on humanitarian grounds. We released so far more than 100 detainees. But those who committed crimes, have been sentenced. So by no international convention, these people can be considered as the prisoners of war,” he said.

Aliyev underlined that Azerbaijan doesn’t hide the number of detainees, noting that Armenia and international institutions were provided with the list of names, surnames and date of birth of all of them.

The president noted that some of the detainees after Azerbaijan returned them have been arrested in Armenia.

Drones

Speaking about the drones, the president noted that after the war ended Azerbaijan signed new contracts to buy new modifications.

He added that at the same time, Azerbaijan produces surveillance drones, not fighters and not Kamikazes, noting that these drones are available for the market.

Aliyev stated that Azerbaijan exports its military products to more than 30 countries and already developed a military-industrial complex with produces the country’s basic needs.

“We continue that because as I said, there is still a threat of Armenian revanchism. There is still a threat of destabilization. So, we must be always ready to defend our border,” he said.