Ilqar Mamed: “Serzh Sargsyan seems to realize the cost of self-isolation, to which Armenia was led by a person with a provincial soul and Kocharyan by surname”

Day.Az interview with famous political scientist Ilqar Mamed.

– Can you comment on the announcement of President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan that he proposed to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to invest into Nagorno Karabakh to demonstrate Azerbaijan’s interest in the welfare of Karabakh and safe life of its population?

– First, there was a word “Miatsum”. It led to war, in which Armenia obtained Miatsum by the help of the Kremlin, though left without future. Today, the leaders of our neighbors started to recall earlier and more humane words. There words are “common sense”, “trade”, and “good neighborhood”. It is especially positive that the process started with the president of Armenia. I always repeat that the oil and gas reserves of Azerbaijan will be exhausted, but as this implies several decades of stable enrichmente, these reserves bring advantage to Azerbaijan in the sense of Nagorno Karabakh conflict resolution. Therefore, I would not be surprised if the trade between the parties went around the number of zeros and currencies.

I think in a response to Sargsyan’s proposal, Azerbaijan should voice readiness to invest both money and human power into the development of all the occupied lands, including former Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Republic. The Karabakh population can hardly use the volume of funds, which Baku may invest into Karabakh, for their destination.

– Is it possible to speak of progress in the negotiation process when Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan says: “Our key task in the resolution process is to persuade Azerbaijani side that recognition of the right of “Nagorno Karabakh people” to self-determination is inevitable”?

– I like the creative approach Mr.Sargsyan to speeches in public. Due to the rejoicing words of self-determination, most failed to notice the points, which is frustrating for separatists, for “the recognition of the right to self-determination” should first become a fact to further persuade someone of its inevitability. As there is no fact, there is nothing to persuade people of. Sargsyan shared his regret but not his tasks with his people.

– Coordinator of Armenian National Congress Levon Zurabyan announced that in the result of worsening of ties between the West and Russia and paralysis of the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group, Serzh Sargsyan is holding unilateral talks with Turkey on normalization of bilateral relations and resolution of the  Karabakh problem, mostly at the cost of the national interests of Armenia. Why does Armenian opposition consider it to be the betrayal of national interests, if the leadership of this country does not intend to return the occupied lands to Azerbaijan?

– I have worked with Levon Zurabyan in the same international organization and sometimes we shared views on the Karabakh conflict and regional issues. This is such an intelligent and honest person that I do not doubt his sincerity, when he speaks to his people about the politics. But, I hope Levon Zurabyan also realizes that nothing is left from the national interests of Armenia, including in the form, they were declared on the Miatsum wave.

The national interests of Armenia now demand the soonest disavowal of the territorial claims to Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia for the development of trade and good neighbor relations with us. If Levon considers that President Sargsyan is protracting these things, then I understand his disappointment.

But Serzh Sargyan seems to realize the cost of self-isolation, to which Armenia was led by a person with a provincial outlook and Kucharyan by surname. The economic advantage of Azerbaijan will become more obvious in the next 10 years, while the Russian-Georgian conflict took away Yerevan’s remaining hopes for time as a factor of legalization of results of military aggression.

The growing Azerbaijan-Turkey-Georgia cooperation in all spheres will inevitably work against Armenia and even Moscow needs Azerbaijan for the normal operation of its military bases in Armenia.

– Members of the US congress – famous lawyer Mark Gerados  and consultant on human rights Catherine Porter and more than 100 members of the US parliament voiced support to the independence of separatist “Nagorno Karabakh”. How can it comply with the officially declared strategic nature of relations between Azerbaijan and the United States?

– Unlike some other players, the United States demonstrate real interest in the conflict resolution. Despite what all those politicos say, it was the United States which helped Azerbaijan to attain the steady growing advantage as compared to Armenia. Today we can negotiate with Yerevan from the position of a country, winning the world contest, which is a result of a strategic partnership between the United States and Azerbaijan and this partnership must further expand and deepen. Certainly, this process is complicated and controversial but it is obviously important for our country.

– Is it worthy to reckon on the return of the occupied lands of our country if Russia calls Armenia as its outpost in the Caucasus, while the United States has an influential Armenian lobby?

– I have already spoken of the United States. As for Russia, it is the first time that it is displaying a real interest with the resolution of the Karabakh conflict. After the failure in the conflict with Georgia, the Kremlin wants to show that it breeds not only wars but also peace in the South Caucasus.

Moreover, after the break of relations with Georgia, Russia needs the land and air access to its strategical ally – Armenia, which can only lie via Azerbaijan. On the whole, “lobby” and “outpost” are the arguments of the past, which may fully lose their sense due to the development of dynamics, attached to the region by Mikhail Saakashvili. It brought incredible opportunities for Azerbaijan to actively defend its interests in the Karabakh conflict.

/Day.Az/