MP Akram Abdullayev: "Key to solving Nagorno Karabakh is in Russia's hands"

Speaking to The New Anatolian in an exclusive interview, Abdullayev, who describes himself as a close friend to Turkey, also dismissed the efforts of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia towards finding a solution to the disputed enclave of Nagorno Karabakh, saying that the issue is more complicated than was predicted. He urged the big powers to work in cooperation with Russia in order to find a solution.

Warning against the dangers of a failure to find a diplomatic solution to the disputed enclave, Abdullayev said that the Azerbaijani people might think of military options since it is unacceptable for them to give these lands to Armenia. Citing the growing Azerbaijani economy and military, and predicting that the Azerbaijani military budget will equal Armenia's in the years to come, Abdullayev stated that time is on Azerbaijan's side.

Abdullayev, a member of the Turkish-Azerbaijani Interparliamentary Friendship Group, expressed his hope for further development and strengthening of relations between the two countries in various areas, calling on Turkey and other Turkic nations to bring the genocide committed against the Turks to the agenda of European parliaments in retaliation for Armenian genocide claims.

Touching on the Iranian nuclear standoff, the Azerbaijani parliamentarian said his country favors a diplomatic solution to the crisis, warning of the dangers of military action against Iran for the region. Abdullayev also hinted at Azerbaijan's readiness to act like a bridge between the U.S. and Iran to bring the nuclear standoff to an end, citing his country's good relations with the U.S. and historic ties with neighboring Iran.

Amid the current row between the Iranian Azeris and Tehran over an Iranian newspaper's publication of humiliating cartoons of Iranian Azeris, Abdullayev stated that although the Iranian Azeris play an important role in their country's politics, they would not push for a regime change in the country, despite the assertions of some U.S. circles. Warning against any kind of foreign intervention in the domestic affairs of a country, Abdullayev said, "The Iranian people choose their presidents and their regime. Foreign intervention would create dangerous results and many problems."

Here's what Akram Abdullayev had to tell us:

TNA: How do you see the level of relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan, and what could be done to further develop relations?

Abdullayev: I see no problem in bilateral relations. During the latest visit of Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer to Azerbaijan, the two sides had consultations on how to further develop relations, and this visit was also the confirmation of strategic friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Whenever Azerbaijan faces a problem during Council of Europe (CoE) meetings, Turkey is the sole supporter of Azerbaijan. The mutual support during the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) meetings is another indicator of our warm relations and friendship. I hope our relations will be further developed in various areas.

TNA: What's your idea about the Nagorno Karabakh problem? Are you hopeful about a solution?

Abdullayev: Certainly, all the problems have solutions. Talks to find a peaceful solution to the dispute will continue. President Ilham Aliyev also discussed this issue during his meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush in Washington. But should no peaceful solution be found to the disputed enclave, the Azerbaijani people are in favor of regaining these lands through military means. We won't give up these lands. We won't present them to Armenia. If a solution isn't found through peace, the last resort for us is war.

TNA: What are your expectations from Turkey in this dispute?

Abdullayev: In this problem, Turkey is Azerbaijan's political partner. Turkey has an important role in the process of finding a solution to the Nagorno Karabakh dispute but at the same time Turkey has its own problems with Armenia. Armenians brought the Armenian genocide claims to the agenda of the world in order to create a headache for Turkey. Turkey has to work for the benefits of Azerbaijan.

TNA: Could the process of normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia contribute to efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Nagorno Karabakh dispute?

Abdullayev: This problem can't be solved even if Turkey establishes diplomatic relations with Azerbaijan or within the process of normalization of relations because the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute isn't the problem of the region. The efforts of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia aren't enough to solve the problem. We need the efforts of big powers and organizations. The key to a solution is especially in the hands of Russia. The Russian Army is in Armenia and if Azerbaijan tries to find a solution through military means, it will face the Russian Army.

It seems to me that finding a solution to the divided enclave is very difficult. But time is on Azerbaijan's side. This year Armenia's total budget is $1 billion, and the Azerbaijani military's share of the total budget is $600 billion. According to Aliyev's estimates, the Azerbaijani military's share of the budget will be higher that Armenia's budget in the years to come. Azerbaijan is building up its military but Armenia is unable to do that. Azerbaijan's total budget is more than $4 billion this year and it will be more than $6 billion next year. As our country will develop economically, we will take our deserved place among the world states and will have a big position.

TNA: Why aren't Russia and other big powers working for a solution? Do they have any interests in the continuation of the dispute in Nagorno Karabakh?

Abdullayev: There are visible and invisible sides of politics. The Nagorno Karabakh dispute didn't start yesterday, it stems from the 1988 events while Gorbachev was president. Fifteen republics split off from the Soviet Union. At that time the Soviet Union created problems for each split-off republic in order to stop their development. For instance, it created the Abkhazia problem for Georgia, the Crimean problem for Ukraine and the Nagorno Karabakh problem for Azerbaijan and Armenia. At that time nobody wanted the dissolution of the Soviet Union but this process was inevitable in general. The Nagorno Karabakh dispute is the legacy of the Soviet Union to Azerbaijan. For these reasons, a solution could only be found as a result of negotiations between Russia and other big powers.

TNA: What is Azerbaijan's position towards the Armenian genocide claims and the French bill introducing prison terms for people who question these claims?

Abdullayev: While bringing the genocide claims to the agenda of European parliaments, Armenia aimed at creating an obstacle for Turkey's membership bid in the European Union. Those who brought the issue to the French Parliament are the European parliamentarians well paid by the Armenian lobby. Today, neither the Turkish genocide nor the Armenian genocide is important for France.

Turks are a nation which faced a brutal genocide. But they didn't make their voices heard in the world. I think both Turkey and other Turkic nations should bring the genocide committed against the Turks to the world's agenda and should work for the recognition of the genocide by the international community.

TNA: What's the position of Azerbaijan towards the nuclear standoff between Iran and the West?

Abdullayev: Azerbaijan supports finding a diplomatic solution to the nuclear crisis and it opposes military action against Iran. Azerbaijan is a historic neighbor of Iran and the two countries have good relations. There are some 20 million Iranian Azeris living in Iran. Therefore, Azerbaijan can't accept military action against Iran and can't stand to shed the blood of our brothers.

TNA: Can Azerbaijan play a mediator role between Iran and the U.S. in the nuclear crisis, given the role of the Iranian Azeris?

Abdullayev: It might be or might not be. Since 2001 Azerbaijan has become a member of the anti-terror coalition. It has good relations both with the U.S. and Iran. Besides, it has cultural ties with Iran. Iranian Azeris play a role in Iranian politics. For those reasons, Azerbaijan can be a bridge between the U.S. and Iran. The U.S. hasn't suggested that Azerbaijan play such a role yet, but the Azerbaijani Parliament might consider debating this issue.

TNA: Can the Iranian Azeris be a catalyst for regime change in Iran, as asserted by some U.S. circles?

Abdullayev: I don't accept the interference of any country in the domestic affairs of another. If the Iranian citizens want to change the regime, they will vote in accordance with this aim. The Iranian president and regime are determined by the votes of its citizens. Therefore, this issue should be left to the citizens. Even if the U.S. wants to change the regime, it would be very difficult, and intervention in Iranian politics would create dangerous consequences.

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