As we know, the Armenians have built their strategy to put pressure on Azerbaijan over the so-called “humanitarian crisis”. There is pressure, but there are no results, because Baku’s demands are legitimate and no one dares to oppose them. And even if they do, nothing will come out of it.
For example, political scientist Zardusht Alizade said in an interview with Minval.az that it would take a special talent to starve to death in Karabakh.
What can you say about the recent developments in Karabakh? As you know, the Armenians are screaming to the whole world about a humanitarian crisis.
So, about the “humanitarian crisis” in Karabakh our neighbors are screaming about. I will remind you that Karabakh is a purely agricultural region, where it would take you a special talent to starve to death. There are vegetables and fruits and livestock farming there: this is not Leningrad for you.
Yes, the population of Khankendi is limited in some actions, there is no external source of food and medicine, but this is not Azerbaijan’s fault. This story is reminiscent of the parable of Solomon and two women who both claimed to be the mother of the same baby. Solomon ordered the baby to be cut in half and the one who rejected this decision was the real mother. Solomon then gave the child to that woman.
Armenia is now peddling the “starvation” of Karabakh Armenians, claiming that Khankendi is experiencing a disaster. Baku responds that there is no blockade and that all goods must pass through the Agdam road. From the legal point of view, Azerbaijan’s position is infallible. But from the moral point of view, we are losing to Armenian lobby and diaspora organizations, because Armenians are the favorite child of the West, they have always protected them and will continue to do so. In any case, there is quite a rigmarole going on right now. But Azerbaijan has strong trump cards, and if it uses them, it will be able to tip the scales in its favor.
What are these trump cards that we have?
There is no point in negotiating with the so-called “leadership” of Karabakh Armenians. The entire top leadership consists of criminals, Arayik, Samvel and all the rest are criminals who protect their own interests. Azerbaijan can openly offer all Karabakh Armenians the rights and privileges it can grant them. Without giving Karabakh Armenians any official status, within the framework of municipal self-government, to establish self-government institutions that the world would find compelling. In this way we would show the world that our goal is not “genocide” and “ethnic cleansing” but ensuring a normal life for the Armenians living in Karabakh. That is all.
Denis Gonchar, Director of the Fourth Department for CIS countries of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, said in his latest interview that international mechanisms are needed to support the Armenians of Karabakh. What did he mean by international mechanisms?
Did he say anything about the rights of the poor Russians suffering in penal colonies and prisons right now? When Russians talk about the rights of Karabakh Armenians, it reminds me of a saying we have: a bear will play a thousand games for the sake of one pear. When they talk about these rights, they mean an uninterrupted presence of the Russian military in Karabakh. They do not care about the rights of Armenians, their fate and future, they do not even care about their own people, they only want to keep their privileges and their game.
Azerbaijan should not pay attention to what the Russians want. Baku has its own agenda and position on the peaceful settlement of problems in the region. This position will change and improve according to the circumstances.
We should continue on this path, and there should not and cannot be any extension of the mandate of the Russian peacekeeping forces. No special status should be given to the Armenians of Karabakh, but some rules, models of cohabitation and ensuring national identity, local self-governance, rights and civil liberties should be discussed. These rights can be ensured even within our current Constitution.
But the Armenians of Karabakh are not communicating with us, they do not want to listen to us.
We should first announce the program to them through the information field. For example, on behalf of a group of political scientists or the civil sector. To outline everything point by point: what they will have and how it is going to work. This does not require any special security guarantees. If individual citizens harm them on ethnic grounds, these citizens will be punished under civil and criminal law.
As for the language, they can speak Armenian, but the official language is Azerbaijani. They should learn it in order to have better employment and other opportunities. There are people living in Baku who have little knowledge of the official language and speak Russian. Does it somehow interfere with their normal life? No. People live, work and grow. Do they want schools? Let them have schools in Armenian, but the content of their textbooks should be reviewed by the Ministry of Education of Azerbaijan, so that Armenian children are not told tales about “heroes” like Monte Melkonian and Varoujan Garabetian. But they can sing their songs, Armenian mugham, popular hits, they can dance, go to Armenia whenever they want, no one will stop them.
How do we get rid of the Russian peacekeeping forces in 2025?
It’s elementary. In 2025 Azerbaijan notifies Russia in writing that after November 10, 2025 the Russian peacekeeping contingent must leave our territory. But until that time we must establish normal relations with the Karabakh Armenians.
What about Arayik and all other separatists?
Arayik, Ruben and the others are nobodies. We need to work with the population. And this should be done through an open information space. Please understand that information is not material, but this idea, if it reaches the broad masses of Karabakh Armenians and they understand and believe us, is stronger than any weapon. Then no one will stop them. We need to speak at the level of ordinary citizens, the information space is open.
Talk to the Karabakh Armenians and offer them options for coexistence. If this happens, we will not need to fear Russian pressure. We have to show the whole world that there is no need for prolongation of the Russian peacekeeping activities in Karabakh. We are the victorious country, and the next stage in the development of relations is steps towards coexistence.
Nijat Hajiyev
Translated from Minval.az
The interview is published as part of the “The 44-Day Patriotic War and Its Representation in Social Media” project of the Public Union of Democracy and Women’s Initiatives funded by the Agency for State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The author’s views and opinions are his own and may not reflect that of the Agency for State Support to NGOs of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
