Armenia needs to be clearly explained that irrational, unconstructive position will be failure: top Azerbaijani official

Day.Az: Recently, Russia's president Dmitry Medvedev held a meeting on the Caspian cooperation in Astrakhan. How do you comment on the fact that Moscow insists on the ban on deployment of military forces in the Caspian Sea by non-regional countries while the U.S. is actively cooperating with Azerbaijan as a part of the program “The Caspian Guard”?

Elnur Aslanov: Azerbaijan is an active supporter of peace in the region. We cooperate with the United States in a number of issues, as well as with Russia. In all these respects Azerbaijan has an understanding of national security issues. Everything we do meets our national interest and is aimed at ensuring national security.

Q: How can replacement of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs impact settlement of Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

A: A few days ago, I commented on this issue. This is issue of staff rotation and inherent in all spheres. Naturally, we hope and expect that each new co-chair will do everything so that Armenia will eventually free the Azerbaijani territories.

Armenia needs to be clearly and unambiguously explained that the irrational and unconstructive position will be failure. Today, Armenia is totally crushed by global financial crisis and the situation in the economic and political sphere in this country will deteriorate every day. It is obvious to all. How long the Armenian leadership will try to give hope to its citizens denying them democratic rights and opportunities to live in peace with its neighbors? The Armenian leadership needs to have a rational look at the blunders and mistakes, because time is working against them.

Q: Please comment on the recent withdrawal of Georgia from CIS. What impact this move can have on CIS?

A: This move was expectable following August events that took place last year. The two member states had difficult relationship within one organization and analysts described the possibility of their improvement in the short term as remote.

As to CIS, this organization has experienced great difficulty in proving its reliability and efficiency for many years. There are, of course, attempts to save, change the format, to improve the atmosphere ... but, everything is solved at the bilateral level and within personal relations of the States in the CIS. Of course, if you ask what will happen to the CIS, the answer is that the CIS will continue to operate, because there are certain economic preferences of this union. But when one member of the Commonwealth occupies the territory of another member, then naturally the question arises as to how long this situation can persist. CIS is far from more effective unions that provide economic security and prospect to their members

Q: In light of recent events, which include the Russia-Azerbaijan gas agreement, intergovernmental agreement on the Nabucco project signed in Ankara and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's visit to Turkey, how you see future of the Nabucco project?

A: It is clear that Nabucco will be realized, especially since the financial crisis in the West for a number of projections is on the wane. This is a project of geo-economic nature, so it is of a very big interest. But at the same time, we can see how more expedient routes and projects are skillfully and efficiently organized. At a time when everyone should think about its economic benefits no one does not have to wait since we do not live in a period of planned economy. Accordingly, some Western countries should understand importance of such categories as mobility and speed, for a proverb says: “Who are not at risk, he does not drink champagne.”

Q: How do you assess political situation in the country on the eve of municipal elections?

A: Municipal elections are an important step in terms of development of a democratic state. Therefore, each of us should treat them with utmost responsibility. We have a tradition and experience to hold open and democratic elections and stability and desire to build a democratic state. Of course, there is also a weak opposition, which has already announced some blocs and alliances. Hopefully, though with difficulty, they still be able to organize interesting and effective promotion of their ideas and suggestions. I think, it will be more interesting to discuss political situation in the country in a period closer to the elections.

/Day.Az/