Azerbaijani MP: We believe in Erdogan’s words

Day.Az: Turkish officials continually claim that they take into account Azerbaijan’s interests while normalizing relations with Armenia. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan also made statements in this regard very recently…

Nizami Jafarov: I have read this statement. He said that Turkey will try to open its border with Armenia and establish diplomatic relations with it. But these relationships will be good-neighborly. But at the same time he stressed that Azerbaijan is a friendly and brotherly country for Turkey and that "we can never overshadow the relations with Azerbaijan.” We believe in this statement.  

The speaker of the Turkish Parliament and Turkish MPs recently visited Azerbaijan. They met with the speaker of the Parliament of Azerbaijan and representatives of Azerbaijan-Turkey Inter-Parliamentary Working Group. At these meetings they stated that even if on October 10 protocols on establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia are signed, there are possibility that they may not be approved by the Turkish Parliament. We believe them.

I want to say that Turkey has chosen a great strategic way for itself. Turkey seeks great credibility in the region by eliminating regional conflicts and get down into history as a nation who did do.

Their strategic plan is to ensure that all borders were open. That is, with a provision that the territory of Azerbaijan occupied by Armenia will be immediately be returned. The complexity is that how Turkey will do this and how it will deal with Armenian diaspora.

Q: That is, Azerbaijan in any case should not fear that brotherly Turkey may ignore Azerbaijan’s interests?

A: We do not fear that Turkey can betray Azerbaijan. This can not happen! Azerbaijan is a strong country in the region which is ready to cooperate with all countries and everybody knows it. However, we do want Turkey make a mistake not knowing itself.

Q: What kind of mistake?

A: Compared with Armenia, we are a very strong country both in terms of economy and political-ideological viewpoint. Sometimes it is said that the Karabakh problem can not be solved and how long one can wait for its resolution. It would be wrong for Turkey to have the above-said approach to this issue. Because Russia and Iran has protected Armenia for a long time. Russia’s interference in the matter is natural while similar actions by Iran are unnatural.

Q: Can Iran’s interference in these issues be discussed during the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Iran?

A: Undoubtedly. During all the meetings at the highest of the countries in the region  Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is always discussed. Even after these meetings, they say that this issue was not discussed.  

Iran has not urged Armenia to discuss the conflict with us, but instead began to help Yerevan. And now, if border between Armenia and Turkey reopens, Armenia will get rid of a blockade and begin to wriggle out of the solution of the Karabakh problem and the return of occupied Azerbaijani territories. This is dangerous.

Q: It was reported that head of the Turkish delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Movlut Chavushoglu at a meeting of the European Democratic Group in the PACE session was nominated on behalf of the group for the post of the PACE president. In the event of his election to this important post, how it can benefit Azerbaijan and Turkey?

A: I know Movlut Chavushoglu very well. He is a true patriot. He was always supported Azerbaijan in all matters related to our country. Not only in words but in deeds, in his speeches in PACE he has always backed Azerbaijan. That is, we know this man as a friend of Azerbaijan. He always fought against Armenian lies in PACE. His election to this high post will benefit not only us but to the entire Turkic world. He is very energetic person.

I do not think and I do not believe that electing him as president of PACE means that Armenian-Turkish issue will be resolved as Europe wishes, that is to open the border without solving the Karabakh problem, and so on. There are people who think that way, but I do not believe it.

Q: How can you comment on elimination of the accreditation of the journalists of the Turkish NTV TV channel by the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry in response to the uncoordinated visit  of the television channel’s journalists to the Nagorno-Karabakh?

A: I believe that we acted in a right way. We discussed this issue with the Turkish side as well. We can punish all those who do not consider Azerbaijan’s stance and do not respect the territorial integrity of our country. This is a public punishment and we have rights in this matter. But this (an illegal visit not negotiated with Azerbaijan) should not have happened. These journalists should not have acted like this or they should have coordinated this issue with Azerbaijan as Karabakh is a territory of Azerbaijan.

Q: What does the recently adopted Baku Declaration of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-speaking countries mean for Azerbaijan?

A: This declaration is perfect. It declares moral, political and ideological unity of the Turkic states that attended the event. The declaration is perfect and is significant in terms of integration of the Turkic world. This is a historic event.

/Day.Az/