Armenian president has stated that Yerevan agreed to liberate seven occupied lands: political expert

Day.Az: To what degree Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s U.S. visit made settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict real?

Mubariz Ahmadoglu: It was known even prior to Erdogan’s visit to the United States that Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be resolved within Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. The principle of territorial integrity has always dominated over all other principles of resolving conflicts between nations.

In this respect, Azerbaijan has always stated that the right of nations to self-determination can only be used within its territorial integrity.

Following Erdogan’s visit to the U.S. and U.S. President Obama’s statement that he will help to intensify work of the Minsk Group, it seems that chances have increased to resolve this conflict within Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity in short timeframe which is supported by all OSCE Minsk Group member countries.  

Is it possible to predict approximate timeframe for return of Armenian-occupied regions of Azerbaijan and to say how many regions will be returned as a first step towards resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

I believe it is impossible to predict timeframe for liberation of lands and how many regions will be liberated. I can only say that former U.S. co-chair of Minsk Group Matthew Bryza once said return of all Armenia-occupied regions surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh is being discussed at the talks.

In addition, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has made a statement at least twice that Armenia has given consent to Russian President Medvedev to liberate seven occupied regions of Azerbaijan. It is suffice just to have a look at the updated Madrid principles announced by the White House on behalf of the co-chairs of OSCE Minsk to see what they say about necessity of returning all the territories around Nagorno-Karabakh under Azerbaijani control. Of course, the process of returning of Armenian-occupied territories of Azerbaijan will take long.

Will beginning of return of the occupied Azerbaijani lands result in Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’as losing power which will undermine intensified resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

Let's start with the fact that unlike the so-called "Armenian genocide", a myth which large number of the Armenians believe in, occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh is a realized dream of Armenian community all over the world which constantly makes territorial claims to neighboring states.

Moreover, the Armenian historians write that the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh is the first achievement of Armenians over the last 700 years. All this suggests that the Armenians would do everything possible not to give back occupied territories to Azerbaijan, their original owner.

I should note that not everything in this world depends on willingness of Armenians who are ready to put forward claims not only to territory of a neighboring states, but even to fruits, for example, calling apricot “an old Armenian fruit.” But in case of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, they will have to accept the fact that it will be resolved within Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

Of course, Dashnaksutun and a number of other radical-nationalist Armenian parties and forces, as well as the Armenian diaspora in the world, will try to do everything possible to destabilize the situation in Armenia and change power in this country to stall negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and to bring to power a person who is opposed to fair resolution based on international norms and rights.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan also understands this. He greatly strengthened his position inside the country since the last congress of the ruling Armenia’s Republican Party making also prime minister his party’s member.

I do not exclude that in the end a truly comic scenario of the situation will be played in Armenia in which Serzh Sargsyan will resign from president’s post, but will return to his post after Tigran Sargsyan, the current Prime Minister and acting Armenian president once Sargsyan resigns, initiates the company of "people's prayers" for the return of the current head of the Armenian state "to reign".

A. Hasanov
Day.Az