Domestic opposition is not example of true democracy: famous Azerbaijani lawyer

Day.Az: Signing of Turkish-Armenian protocols in Zurich became the most important topic for latest discussions. Alas, instead of consolidating all political forces in such a difficult period, the public of Azerbaijan has witnessed just two conflicts within domestic opposition: between Umid Party and Musavat Party and between the newspaper Yeni Musavat and the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan. How do you comment on what is happening?

Aslan Ismayilov: I'll start with a brief comment on Turkish-Armenian protocols signed in Zurich. I describe these actions by the leadership of Turkey towards Azerbaijan a treason. And not just because of the fact that now we witness normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia, which still holds 20 percent of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Not only because there is a big threat that the statements of top leadership of Turkey that the Turkish-Armenian border will be opened only after return of all territories occupied by Armenia will remain big words, aimed to reassure the public of Azerbaijan. And not even because that by current actions the Turkish leadership calls into question the viability of the thesis of "two states - one nation", which is very accurately defined the nature of the Turkish-Azerbaijani relations.
In the end, it is diplomacy, where often feelings of the people are compromised to a very pragmatic foreign policy focused exclusively on personal gains pursued by the leadership of a country. But I can not understand why the Turkish leadership, conducting such a cold, prudent policy towards Azerbaijan, can lose sight of the fact that for many years it gets Azerbaijani gas at a price which makes up at one-third of the world prices? We did not perform pragmatic, cold, calculating policy against Turkey. But in response to a manifestation of sincere fraternal and friendly action, Azerbaijan  received a very unfriendly response, which is difficult to call nothing but betrayal.

In addition, it is enough to make excursions into history to make sure that Armenians will never be satisfied with what they already have. Their appetites is voracious. And we must not forget all those who initiated the process of normalizing Turkish-Armenian relations.

As for the actions of domestic opposition, the conflicts occur inside it not the first year and have already become regular attributes of its life. Personally, I have observe these conflicts starting from 1989, from the moment I returned to Azerbaijan. I was one of the very small number of prosecutors of Azerbaijan, who went to all the demonstrations of the Movement of the Popular Front. Unfortunately, these conflicts within the opposition do not stop now at this fateful moment for the country, causing a feeling of deep grief. I must admit that the main trouble of domestic opposition is its joy to any problems, troubles, difficulties faced by the authorities of Azerbaijan. It was the same case during the presidency of Ayaz Mutallibov and at a time when power was held by Heydar Aliyev. This is happening also now, during the presidency of Ilham Aliyev.

I am convinced that current Head of State Ilham Aliyev makes every effort to return Azerbaijan’s territories occupied by Armenia as Heydar Aliyev did once. And I am deeply convinced that all Azerbaijani society, including domestic opposition, must now gather around President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. After all, a phrase that unity is strength has not been repealed so far.

Q: Can regular conflicts within the opposition and its failure to gather around the current government even at such a critical moment for Azerbaijan be attributed to the fact that domestic opposition parties, in the words of political expert Araz Alizade, are not ideological force, but those gathered around the cult of a certain leader?

A: In general, I can not agree with the statement of Araz Alizade, noting that the idea of the return of Armenia-occupied territories of Azerbaijan has not become a pretext for the unification between the national government and opposition. The problem is compounded by the fact that for nearly 20 years the public of Azerbaijan has seen the same persons in opposition which is also confirmed by the afore-said statement by Araz Alizade.

If the cause of this phenomenon is that the current leaders of the opposition do not allow new people to leadership of their parties, this is a big disadvantage for them. If, however, the opposition leadership does not have really capable, talented politicians, which could be entrusted with the leadership of an opposition party it is even more disadvantage for opposition, demonstrating its inability to produce politicians.

Again, the authorities of Azerbaijan can and should be the subject to criticism and debate on many issues. That's freedom of speech, freedom of thought, democracy. But, alas, the domestic opposition is not an example of true democracy. Regular inter-opposition scandals, inability to accept criticism and draw conclusions from their mistakes of domestic opposition testifies to this.

/Day.Az/