Azerbaijani parliamentarian: Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be solved soon

Is resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict likely to see progress in the first decade of 2010?

It is very hard to predict political process, since so many factors impact the final result. There is no doubt the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is moving forward. The present situation, international situation, hopelessness of Armenia’s occupation policy and Azerbaijan’s principle position in this matter will lead to resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict soon. But it is impossible to predict exact time when it will happen.

Today, Armenia is forced to make a choice: either it accepts international legal norms, builds normal neighborly relations with neighbors, or it will gradually lose its national strength, and finally, independence.

In your opinion, may the Turkey-Armenia protocols be ratified till April 24, next anniversary of the so-called “Armenian genocide”?

Turkey has a specific position on this issue. Turkey will not ratify the protocols until there is progress in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and until Armenia withdraws its troops from occupied Azerbaijani territories.

One should not link ratification of protocols with the date April 24 - a day of invented "Armenian genocide". Armenia often threatens Turkey with possible recognition of this fictitious event by some countries.

Turkey, as a great state, is of great importance both for the world community and in bilateral relations with major countries. Therefore, any country is unlikely to exert political pressure on Turkey to recognize the date of April 24 because of political ambitions of the Armenian nationalists.

Such a move could lead to unpredictable consequences, in particular, can spoil bilateral relations between Turkey and the countries that can take such a step. Threats of Armenian nationalists are not serious and ungrounded

Do you mean the Armenia-Turkey border is less likely to open till April 24?

Everything depends on settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Armenian-Turkish border may be opened only after agreement is reached on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, regardless of whether it will happen before or after April.

In your view, who will take the first step to promote normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations? Ankara or Yerevan?

I think Turkey has already made its move in this regard. Despite Armenia’s territorial claims against Turkey, Ankara signed the Turkey-Armenia protocols.

Now it is up to Armenia, that is, it needs only to recognize international law and abandon territorial claims to neighboring states.

What steps Armenian may take to get Armenia-Turkey relations normalized as soon as possible?

I think that Armenia would never agree to abandon its great power ambitions, but the current situation compels it to sober up, because Armenia’s policy leads to self-imposed isolation and absence of any investments in the country’s economy.

N. Abdullayeva