Azerbaijan's ambassador to Germany: "If the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is not restored, there will never be peace and stability in the region"

- A conference on the variants of resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict from the Azerbaijani point of view has lately been held in the Berlin office of the political fund of Conrad Adenauer. Armenian mass medias wrote much about it claiming that Azerbaijan was recommended to reconcile with the established situation. Could you please, being one of the participants in the event, inform an Azerbaijani reader about what was really going on at the conference?

- I agree with you and I would like to note that as usually Armenian mass medias have their specific approach towards the information about the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in the way that is favorable to Armenia. It is not new to us.

First of all, I would like to note that those who spoke at the conference informed in details about the position of Azerbaijan noting that Azerbaijan supports the peaceful resolution of the conflict in the framework of the territorial integrity of the country.

Representative of the German fund of policy and science Uwe Halbah and referent of the secretariat of the faction of the Bundestag Christian-Democratic faction Reine Dornzeifer voiced their own opinions, supported the peaceful resolution of the conflict and recommended to use the mediation of international organizations, including the Council of Europe for the resolution of the conflict.

Refuting the information of Armenian mass medias, I would like to note that Dornzeifer did not say that Azerbaijan must reject a part of lands. He noted that Azerbaijan and Armenia must find ways out of the established situation.

In a response it was confirmed that Azerbaijan is interested in the soonest resolution of this conflict and uses all ways for the purpose.

As for the Council of Europe, it was noted that the due resolution on the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict was adopted in the framework of this organization in 2005. This resolution says that the Armenian armed forces occupied a part of Azerbaijani lands, held ethnic cleansing and currently the occupation is going on. The resolution says that the Council of Europe is deeply concerned with the situation.

It should be noted that Armenian mass medias informing about the conference did not say anything about the report of famous German researcher on South Caucasus and Central Asian countries Johannes Rau.

Such approach proved again that statements, published in Armenian mass medias, are of propagandist nature. Rau said in his report that the conflict resolution must base on the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, Armenian armed forces must be withdrawn from the occupied lands. As for Nagorno Karabakh, this region can be granted a high automony and the relations between Baku and Khankendi must be built in the vertical way.

He added that being a researcher he studied the position of the Armenian public and researches showed that Armenian public has an ambiguous attitude towards the occupation of Azerbaijani lands and in most cases it is against it, being aware that there will not be peace in case of violation of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. To prove his words, he listed the quotes from the statements of some Armenian politicians.

The event was attended by some Armenians Gayane Apinyan and L.Sargsyan, who attempted to introduce themselves as representatives of Nagorno Karabakh Republic in Germany.

In this connection after my appeal to the representative of the fund of Conrad Adenower, Hefelei, chairing the conference, was informed about the status of these persons. He said the fund does not recognize any structure as a permanent representative of "Nagorno Karabakh Republic" in Germany and the said people can take part in the event only as individuals, residing in Germany.

I also voiced my protest to the fact that Apinyan claims to be permanent representative of non-existing "Nagorno Karabakh Republic" in Germany. I noted that Apinyan holds a provocative activity in Berlin, attempting to get political dividends from misinforming not only German NGOs, but also state and legislative structures.

The German government does not recognize the separatist regime functioning in the occupied lands of Azerbaijan and the structure, which Apinyan claims to represent, is not registered in Germany. It allows to call Apinyan and his colleagues as impostors.

Moreover, I have noted that there is no such concept as "Nagorno Karabakh people". Azerbaijani and Armenian communities have coexisted in the Nagorno Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. During the conflict a part of Azerbaijani community was terminated as a result of ethnic cleansing, while another part was driven away from the lands. Therefore, such people as Apinyan, have no right to speak on behalf of the Karabakh people.

I would like to note that the leadership of Azerbaijan, that supports the resolution of the Karabakh conflict, has been taking all possible measures in this direction and in the future it intends to continue efforts in this direction. Yet, there is a limit to the patience of Azerbaijani people. Under international law, application of force against the territorial integrity allows Azerbaijan to give an adequate response. In case the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is not restored, there will not be peace and stability in the region. The future development of the South Caucasus region depends on the resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

- What can you say about the level of intergovernmental relations between Azerbaijan and Germany?

- Azerbaijan and Germany maintain strong and developing relations. Both countries are interested in the greater development and deepening of cooperation. Currently most spheres in the bilateral relations including political, economic, cultural-humanitarian - are developing successfully and deepening.

Mutual visits, numerous documents, events in economic, political and cultural spheres, are main indicators of bilateral relations. Two official and one working visit of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Germany have become a greater stimulus to deepening of relations.

The year of 2008 was full of significant events in the history of relations between Azerbaijan and Germany. The year of Azerbaijan was held for the first time in the relations with the Western European countries in Germany. Under support of the Azerbaijani President with participation of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, other state structures, German and Azerbaijani NGOs, as well as representatives of Azerbaijani diaspora about 100 cultural events in the framework of the year of Azerbaijan were held in Berlin and other federal lands of Germany from March until December of 2008.

These events were playing an important role in the familiarization of Europe with Azerbaijan, presenting true facts about our country. The event on closing the year of Azerbaijan, was held in Stutgart, in the capital of the federal land of Baden Wurttemberg. Coverage of the year of Azerbaijan by German mass medias, including such TV and radio channels as RBB and SVR, attracted attention of the German public to our country.

Weeks of German culture will be held by a decision of the German government in Azerbaijan to continue cultural relations in 2009.

/Day.Az/