Asim Mollazade: "Normalizing of relations between Turkey and Armenia is quite possible but only after Armenia releases the occupied lands of Azerbaijan"

- Assistant US Secretary of State Daniel Fried said Turkey needs to reconcile with a dark chapter in its history: mass killings and forced deportation of up to 1,500,000 Armenians in the end of the Osman Empire. Doesn't it imply possible recognition of the so-called "Armenians genocide" by the United States?

- I do not think there is a possibility for recognition of the "genocide of Armenians" by the United States. On the whole, I consider that history should involve historical scientists not politicians. In this connection, it should be noted that the Azerbaijan-Turkey Fund of Historical Researches, engaged in studying all political facts including 1915 events in Osman Turkey, has already been created. We are ready to cooperation with the historical scientists of the world in this issue, as our purpose is to restore historical justice.

- How would you comment on Fried's announcement that the US are for normalizing relations between Armenia and Turkey?

- I think normalizing of relations between Turkey and Armenia is quite possible but only after Armenia releases the occupied Azerbaijani territories. If not, improvement of relations between Turkey and Armenia is out of the question. I think it would be more correct and expedient for the United States to use its influence for boosting peace and good neighbor relations in our region.

- Doesn't the tone of Fried's announcement imply that the US intend to put pressure on Turkey for normalizing relations with Armenia?

- I do not think any country in the world will manage to impose pressure on Turkey and Azerbaijan in the issue of normalizing relations with Armenia if the occupied territories of our country are not liberated. There is a great potential for restoring peace and tranquility in our region by means of pressure on Armenia, which must disavow the territorial claims to the countries of our region and liberate the occupied lands of Azerbaijan.

- But how Turkey benefits from closing borders with Armenia?

- This is a way of non-forced pressure on Armenia, aiming to show the leadership of this country the erroneousness of the expansionist policy. Moreover, the position of Turkey, which is a brother to Azerbaijan, is strong, as the whole world has already realized the rude violation of all international rules and norms by Armenia. Turkey simply supports international law. And I do hope that all world countries, stating need for normalizing of Azerbaijani-Armenian and Turkish-Armenian relations should also be loyal to these principles.

Moreover, in this case not the usefulness of the quo status for Turkey but its consequences for Armenia should be spoken of. Here everything is clear: Armenia has turned into Russia's outpost in the Caucasus, isolating itself from all regional projects, involving Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia and attractive for European countries. Armenia's lagging behind all other regional countries is growing each year.

The most pragmatic and wisest part of the Armenian society also realizes the situation. They voiced their distrust to the incumbent Armenian authorities during the recent presidential elections in this country. As you remember, the Karabakh clan representatives committed bloodshed and held repressions against their own citizens, protesting against the results of elections. People were killed in the Yerevan streets during the upheaval, censorship was applied, repressions against opposition members are still conducted in Armenia and strict restrictions were imposed on freedom of speech.

It all proves disappointment with the Armenian powers, understanding of the deadlocked situation, to which the country has led itself by its policy of territorial claims to neighbor countries of the region. I want to believe that world society will help this country get rid of the "war party" by means of democratic reforms.

/Day.Az/